Many people consider the ocean a majestic place filled with life and wonder. Movies such as The Little Mermaid and Moana center around the majesty of the ocean; however, have you ever thought about how many oceans the world has and their depths? If you have, keep reading.

So…how many oceans are there?

There are five ocean basins, which are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Ocean basins. According to UNESCO, the world’s oceans occupy 90% of all habitable space on the planet and have more than 97% of all the water on our blue planet!

Measuring an Ocean’s Depth

The depths of the world’s oceans were measured using satellite measurements by scientists from NOAA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Through these satellite images, scientists learned that the seafloor has more valleys and mountains than previously presumed.

The Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean basin stretches from the Bering Strait to the Southern Ocean basin and is by far the largest and deepest ocean basin on the planet. It covers almost 30% of Earth’s surface and roughly 46% of the water surface. The Pacific Ocean basin has an average depth of 4,280 meters (14,040 feet). Its deepest point, known as the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, is 11,034 meters (36,201 feet))! Mount Everest could fit into the Challenger Deep, and roughly a mile’s worth of space would be left!

The Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean basin is Earth’s second deepest ocean, taking up nearly 20% of our planet’s surface! The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 3,338 meters (10,932 feet). The Puerto Rico Trench, located in the Caribbean Sea, is the Atlantic’s deepest point at 8,605 meters (28,232 feet).

The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean basin is the world’s third deepest ocean, with an average depth of 3,741 meters (12,274 feet). The Indian Ocean’s deepest depth is the Java Trench, also known as the Sunda Trench, which has a depth of 7,450 meters (24,442 feet)!

The Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean Basin was acknowledged and accepted by The International Hydrographic Organization in 2000 because it surrounds Antarctica and is comprised of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean basins.

This ocean is the fourth-largest ocean basin in the world. The Southern Ocean covers roughly 6% of the total ocean area and has a deepest point of 7,433.6 meters (24,388 feet).

The Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is the world’s smallest, coldest, and shallowest ocean basin. This ocean’s deepest point discovered is 5,502 meters (18,050 feet).