Bob Ballard: An Explorer's Life May 2026

His discovery was made possible by revolutionary "telepresence" technology—unmanned, camera-equipped robots like and Jason that allowed him to see the seafloor without being physically present in a submersible. Beyond the "Rusty Old Boat"

The massive German battleship, found in water 4,000 feet deeper than the Titanic. Bob Ballard: An Explorer's Life

Earned undergraduate degrees in chemistry and geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara . found in water 4

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. Santa Barbara . Born in Wichita