Who wants to be an Oceanographer?

The oceans cover around two thirds of the earth, and yet until recently scientists knew more about the surface of the moon than the ocean depths here on earth. It was only 30 years ago that entirely new forms of life were found on the ocean floor near hot volcanic vents called black smokers and just recently that Japanese researchers obtained the first film of a specimen of the elusive giant squid, a creature that is thought to grow up to 18 m in length.

The oceans are truly a frontier for discovery, and nearly every visit in a deep water submersible reveals new discoveries. The scientific explorers are called oceanographers and in this programme we'll introduce you to some of the things they do (though we can't take you down to ocean floor in a submarine just yet).

There are three stages of the programme: Pre-visit, Site Visit and Post-visit. To ensure you get the most out of your “Who wants to be an Oceanographer?” visit, don't forget to click the “PRE-VISIT” button below.