Closing 20th January 2026
Go on a 150-year voyage of scientific exploration; from HMS Challenger to the how the Royal Navy, discovers the wonders of the deep sea today.
Embark on a thrilling voyage of discovery as you delve into the extraordinary tale of the HMS Challenger expedition. See how this ‘floating laboratory’ changed our understanding of the ocean and why its findings are still used today.
In 1872, HMS Challenger set sail from Portsmouth to embark on the scientific study of the ocean. This odyssey would go on to be regarded as the blueprint for future oceanographic missions. Challenger travelled 68,000 nautical miles in three and a half years. Circumnavigating the globe, the crew collected thousands of samples of animal life, plant life, sea-floor deposits and water samples from all levels of the ocean. These samples are still used to help us understand the ocean and climate change today.
Now 150-years on, find out how the Royal Navy continues to use cutting-edge technology to help us understand the changing nature of the ocean, alongside our exhibition partners the National Oceanography Centre and others.
