Bob Ballard: | An Explorer's Life

Born in Wichita, Kansas in 1942, Ballard’s path to the deep sea began in San Diego. His fascination with the ocean was ignited at age 12 by the Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . He grew up dreaming of being Captain Nemo, a goal he pursued through a unique combination of military service and high-level science.

John F. Kennedy's lost World War II patrol boat in the Solomon Islands.

Well-preserved Roman and Byzantine vessels in the anoxic (oxygen-free) waters of the Black Sea. Inspiring the Next Generation Bob Ballard: An Explorer's Life

The massive German battleship, found in water 4,000 feet deeper than the Titanic.

Spent decades at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and later joined the University of Rhode Island. The Titanic and the "Secret" Mission Born in Wichita, Kansas in 1942, Ballard’s path

Bob Ballard: An Explorer’s Life Dr. Robert "Bob" Ballard is arguably the most famous underwater explorer of our time. While the world primarily knows him as the man who found the , his life’s work spans over 150 expeditions that have fundamentally changed our understanding of the ocean floor, biology, and human history. A Childhood Dream Realized

Today, Ballard remains active through the and his flagship, the E/V Nautilus . His mission has pivoted from discovery to inspiration. Through Nautilus Live , students and the public can watch real-time deep-sea exploration and interact with scientists from around the globe. John F

Served 30 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Commander.