You were born too late for the space race of the 60’s and too early to settle on Mars, but you’re right on time to explore the ocean floor.

Be part of the last great exploration on Earth. 

Sign up for early access to Hexplorer.

Be an Early Adopter

Our Misson

For centuries, exploration was limited to those with resources. But the barriers to ocean exploration have come down, making discovery possible for everyone, including you.

Map the Gaps is building Hexplorer, a digital experience that allows anyone, anywhere, anytime to adopt a hex of the ocean floor.

Map the Gaps is changing the face of ocean exploration.

Become an Early Adopter

Hexplorer: the future of ocean floor exploration.

Hexplorer divides the seafloor into a mosaic, each hex open to adoption by citizen explorers.

Every hex is an invitation to discover, explore and reveal what lies beneath. At its heart, this mission brings people together around something deeply human: exploration

How it works

01

Start Exploring

Dive into our interactive map and explore the world’s oceans, from coastal waters to the deep sea. Discover shipwreck zones, uncharted regions and remote tectonic frontiers. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads.

02

Make It Yours

Find a hex that speaks to you. With a range of sizes and locations, you can adopt a piece of the ocean as a gift, a personal legacy, or a way to support ocean exploration.

03

Follow the Discovery

Once adopted, your hex becomes part of your story. Every discovery made there is one you helped unlock. You will receive a certificate of adoption and ongoing updates from the frontier you helped explore.

Ocean Discoveries

  • "Patrick Star" Starfish

    Image credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

  • "Death-ball" Sponge

    Image credit: Jialing Cai/The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Schmidt Ocean Institute

  • Deep Sea Volcanoes

    Image credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

  • Deep Sea Methane Leak

    Image credit: VitaSerendipity/Getty Images

  • Egg-covered Volcano

    Image credit: NEPDEP 2023

  • Shipwreck

    Image credit: Tamara Thomsen, State Historical Society of Wisconsin

  • Hextile 5283

    What will you discover?

Become an early adopter

Hexplorer launches in 2026.

We’re inviting early adopters to help bring it to life.

For every $100 contribution, you’ll receive your very own unexplored hex. Once surveyed, you’ll receive a digital image of the ocean floor in your hex and partial credit for any discoveries made there.

Your support directly funds the development of the Hexplorer platform.

Secure your place in the last great exploration on Earth.

3% Cover the Fee

By adopting an ocean hex tile, you are supporting ocean floor exploration globally. Map the Gaps works with a wide range of partners to plan, staff and execute exploration missions. Your support allows us to develop the app and perform new mapping expeditions in unexplored areas. Depending on where you file taxes, your support may be considered a charitable tax donation. Map the Gaps is a 501(c)3 IRS non-profit organization with EIN #84-2896027.

Be part of the last great exploration on Earth. 
Sign up for early access to Hexplorer

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