Ocean Exploration
and Awareness
We believe that the ocean – which covers 72 percent of the Earth’s surface and 99 percent of its livable space – is the world’s largest, most important, and least adequately understood natural resource.
Our aim is to support researchers’ exploration of the ocean and to document that exploration through compelling media that creates public awareness and inspires a deep and personal connection to the ocean. We hope to move the needle on advancing human knowledge of the ocean while also creating a global community deeply engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting it for future generations.
To further this work, we have launched the OceanX initiative, which is a mission to explore the ocean and bring it back to the world. OceanX leverages a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art research vessel called the OceanXplorer that’s equipped with manned submersibles, helicopters, advanced wet and dry labs, and the latest media and editing equipment. This vessel and equipment provide a platform to support the research of scientists worldwide and serve as a cutting-edge floating production studio that is used to capture and share exciting discoveries with the public.
OceanX Media, the production arm of OceanX, creates compelling content that captures the excitement and importance of ocean exploration and engages audiences worldwide. Content and productions take the form of broadcast media, giant screen and other films, short form videos, social media campaigns, virtual reality experiences, museum exhibits, and impact-driven video games.
Dalio Philanthropies and OceanX have worked with hundreds of scientists at scientific research institutions including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, California Academy of Sciences, Yale University, Harvard University, and local scientists and research institutions in various locations globally. Our media partners have included the BBC, National Geographic, PBS/NOVA, Silverback Films, Years of Living Dangerously, Atlantic Productions, NHK, Fusion Media Group, and Univision Communications. In 2020, we begin principal photography on our largest collaborative media project to date, a six-episode, multi-platform series with a working title “Mission: OceanX” that we are producing for National Geographic in concert with the BBC and James Cameron.
In 2018, OceanX launched the One Big Wave initiative through which OceanX seeks to partner with others globally to scale awareness and protection of the ocean. One Big Wave partners include Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans Initiative, with whom OceanX jointly committed to spending $186 million over four years, Avatar Alliance Foundation, Paradise Foundation, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Moore Charitable Foundation, and other global leaders in philanthropy, science, media, and conservation.
In 2021, OceanX launched collaborations focused on inspiring and educating the next generation of ocean explorers, partnering with others in creating immersive experiences, creative products, and educational content, and launching our signature Young Explorers Program with partners from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) and Coral Vita. The Young Explorers Program provides college students from a diversity of lived experiences and backgrounds with the opportunity to learn about and explore the ocean alongside OceanX scientists at sea.
In addition to supporting ocean exploration and awareness through OceanX, Dalio Philanthropies is also supporting ocean education, encouraging collaborative data collection and sharing, and technological innovation. Thus far, our funding of this OceanX initiative as well as support for the environment exceeds $278 million.
For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow @OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
