Institute for Exploration - Mystic Aquarium

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Institute for Exploration

ROV Hecules

The Institute for Exploration (IFE) is dedicated to research in the aquatic sciences, especially pertaining to human and natural history in the oceans. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Ballard, IFE develops advanced deep-sea vehicle systems to conduct this research, as well as educate students and the general public about our work.

Our Expeditions

Black and Aegean Seas 2010

Sea Research Foundation's Institute for Exploration team returns to the Black and Aegean Seas this summer aboard the E/V Nautilus to explore ancient history and learn more about the ocean.
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Aegean and Black Seas 2009

Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration team had a successful return to the Aegean and Black seas in August 2009, discovering five shipwreck sites around the Datca peninsula, south of Knidos, Turkey, from aboard the new E/V Nautilus.
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Lost City

Dr. Ballard and the rest of the Institute for Exploration expedition team have launched the 2005 mission to the hydrothermal vent field of the Lost City .
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Exhibits

Nautilus Live Theater

Experience a deep-sea expedition in real time.

Noah's Flood and Ancient Shipwrecks

See what was discovered in ancient Phoenician shipwrecks and in the search for evidence supporting the location of Noah’s Flood.

Featured Video

Hydrothermal vents and underwater life.

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Our Vehicles

IFE's most ambitious vehicle is Hercules. Like Little Hercules, it is a neutrally buoyant ROV, moved about by thrusters and equipped with a High Definition video camera. But Hercules is specially designed for excavation - digging and recovering artifacts from ancient shipwrecks in the deep ocean.

IFE Partners

Our Mission

The mission of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., which includes Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning, is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.