OceanX is an ocean exploration initiative founded by Mark Dalio and Ray Dalio, founder of investment firm Bridgewater Associates, an initiative by Dalio Philanthropies,[1] OceanX is a “mission to explore the ocean and bring it back to the world.[2] OceanX combines science, technology and media[3] to explore and raise awareness for the oceans and “create a community engaged with protecting them.”[4] The initiative also supports and facilitates ocean research for scientists, science institutions, media companies and philanthropy partners.[5]
MV Alucia
OceanX’s marine research vessel, the MV Alucia, is a 56-meter research and exploration vessel utilized in the organization’s research and filming expeditions. The vessel is outfitted with two deep-sea submersibles (Triton Submersibles models 3300/3 – named Nadir – and the Deep Rover 2), both rated for a maximum depth of 1,000 meters; an A-star helicopter and helipad; dry and wet science labs; 8K RED cameras, low-light submersible cameras and custom underwater camera housings; and a media room.[6]
OceanX Media
OceanX Media (formerly Alucia Productions) is the media production arm of OceanX.[7] OceanX Media worked with the BBC Earth on the nature documentary series Blue Planet II, taking BBC Studios on nine missions that contributed to four episodes of the series,[8][9] including Episode 2, The Deep, in which OceanX and BBC conducted the first-ever deep-sea submersible dives to the Antarctic seafloor.[10][11] The episode was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program.[12] A video from the dive won the Webby Award in Social: Education and Discovery in 2019.[13] The video was directed by OceanX Media Creative Director Mark Dalio.[14]
Alongside BBC Earth, OceanX Media co-produced Oceans: Our Blue Planet, the Giant Screen companion film to Blue Planet II.[15][16] The film is sponsored by Microsoft.[17]
OceanX Media content has also been featured in media outlets including Mashable,[11] Business Insider,[18] Scientific American,[19] Earther,[20] and Discovery Channel Canada.[21]
Accomplishments
OceanX missions and missions aboard the MV Alucia have been responsible for:
Partners
In addition to its internal science and media operations, OceanX partners with several media, science and philanthropy organizations to facilitate and support their ocean research.[27] Partners include the American Museum of Natural History, BBC Studios, filmmaker James Cameron, photographer Paul Nicklen, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, explorer Sylvia Earle,[5] and scientists Edith Widder[19] and Samantha Joye.[20]
OceanX co-created the #OurBluePlanet digital initiative with BBC Earth with the goal of getting 1 billion people talking about the oceans.[28][29]
In 2018, OceanX partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies to commit $185 million over four years to ocean exploration and protection efforts.[30]
