50 Ocean Quiz Questions and Answers

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How much do you know about the oceans? It’s time to test your knowledge!

71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by the oceans. This means that there is a lot more than land! Between the water itself and all the wonderful creatures living in the ocean, there is a lot to know.

In this ultimate Ocean quiz, we will test your knowledge with 5 rounds of questions and answers. Are you ready?

Round 1: Easy Ocean Trivia Questions

1. How many oceans are there?
2. What is the world’s largest ocean?
3. What is the ‘newest’ named ocean?
4. What is the name for the deepest point in the ocean?
5. The Red Sea is a part of which ocean?
6. What is the name for the famously treacherous region of ocean between Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Miami?
7. Who was the first person to sail around the world?
8. Who was the Greek God of the sea?
9. What is the term for a scientist who studies the oceans?
10. What is the largest coral reef on Earth?

Round 1: Easy Ocean Trivia Questions and Answers

1. How many oceans are there? Five
2. What is the world’s largest ocean? The Pacific Ocean
3. What is the ‘newest’ named ocean? The Southern/Antarctic Ocean
4. What is the name for the deepest point in the ocean? Mariana Trench
5. The Red Sea is a part of which ocean? The Indian Ocean
6. What is the name for the famously treacherous region of ocean between Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Miami? The Bermuda Triangle
7. Who was the first person to sail around the world? Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães)
8. Who was the Greek God of the sea? Poseidon
9. What is the term for a scientist who studies the oceans? Oceanographer
10. What is the largest coral reef on Earth? The Great Barrier Reef

Round 2: Ocean Multiple-Choice Questions

1. What percentage of the world’s surface is covered by an ocean?
   1. 61%
   2. 71%
   3. 81%
   4. 91%
2. The Sulu Sea is part of which ocean?
   1. Atlantic Ocean
   2. Indian Ocean
   3. Pacific Ocean
   4. Southern Ocean
3. What is the name of the perilous strait between South America and Antarctica?
   1. The Drake Passage
   2. The Shackleton Strait
   3. The Ross Sea
   4. The Wrigley Gulf
4. On average, how many grams of salt are there in a litre of seawater?
   1. 15g
   2. 35g
   3. 55g
   4. 75g
5. What is the name of the semicircular region around the edges of the pacific ocean which is responsible for 90% of all earthquakes and 75% of all active volcanoes on Earth?
   1. Hephaestus’ Cradle
   2. The Circle of Jupiter
   3. The Inferno Wheel
   4. The Ring of Fire
6. What species of whale is the largest animal in the world?
   1. Sperm whale
   2. Fin Whale
   3. Humpback Whale
   4. Blue Whale
7. What is Point Nemo?
   1. The furthest point from any human settlement
   2. Any point in the ocean which is completely unmapped
   3. Any point in the ocean that is not controlled by any government or authority
   4. The place where Finding Nemo is set
8. The Tamu Massif is the largest underwater ___ in the world.
   1. Mountain
   2. Volcano
   3. Crater 
   4. River
9. What is the most common type of ocean litter?
   1. Food wrappers
   2. Plastic bags
   3. Plastic bottles
   4. Cigarette butts
10. The melting of the polar ice caps will make the oceans…
    1. Colder
    2. Calmer
    3. Saltier
    4. More biodiverse

Round 2: Ocean Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

1. What percentage of the world’s surface is covered by an ocean? b. 71%
2. The Sulu Sea is part of which ocean? C. Pacific Ocean
3. What is the name of the perilous strait between South America and Antarctica? A. The Drake Passage
4. On average, how many grams of salt are there in a litre of seawater? B. 35g
5. What is the name of the semicircular region around the edges of the pacific ocean which is responsible for 90% of all earthquakes and 75% of all active volcanoes on Earth? D. The Ring of Fire
6. What species of whale is the largest animal in the world? D. blue whale
7. What is Point Nemo? A. The furthest point from any human settlement
8. The Tamu Massif is the largest underwater ___ in the world. B. Volcano
9. What is the most common type of ocean litter? D. Cigarette Butts
10. The melting of the polar ice caps will make the oceans… c. Saltier

Round 3: Ocean Quiz – True or False

1. 85% of the water on Earth is contained inside the ocean.
2. There is enough salt in the ocean to cover the entire surface of the Earth.
3. Though there are many stories about them, there has never been a verified sighting of a giant squid.
4. Scuba is an acronym for ‘self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.’
5. Climate change is making the oceans more acidic.
6. The largest waves are actually underwater.
7. The Antarctic Ice Sheet is larger than China.
8. The Pacific Ocean is five-times wider than the moon.
9. Only two more people have been to the bottom of the Mariana Trench than have been to the moon.
10. The Mediterranean used to be a massive ocean before it was enclosed by continental drift.

Round 3: Ocean Quiz Answers – True or False

1. 85% of the water on Earth is contained inside the ocean. False, it’s closer to 97%
2. There is enough salt in the ocean to cover the entire surface of the Earth. True
3. Though there are many stories about them, there has never been a verified sighting of a giant squid. False
4. Scuba is an acronym for ‘self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.’ True
5. Climate change is making the oceans more acidic. True
6. The largest waves are actually underwater. True
7. The Antarctic Ice Sheet is larger than China. False, but it’s larger than the United States
8. The Pacific Ocean is five-times wider than the moon. True
9. Only two more people have been to the bottom of the Mariana Trench than have been to the moon. False, more people have been to the moon
10. The Mediterranean used to be a massive ocean before it was enclosed by continental drift. False.

Round 4: Medium Ocean Trivia Questions

1. What is the smallest ocean on Earth?
2. The Celtic Sea is part of which ocean?
3. What is the most common unit to measure distances travelled at sea?
4. Most tsunamis are caused by underwater whats?
5. What is the term for a strong surface current which moves from the coast out to sea?
6. Which ocean is home to the Mid-Ocean Ridge, the largest mountain range on Earth?
7. Around 70% of the oxygen we breathe is created in the ocean. What kind of living creature is the largest underwater producer of oxygen?
8. What is an unusually large and unpredictable wave known as?
9. In 1997, an ultra-low-frequency, high volume, underwater noise became a target of suspicion and conspiracy theories. What was it known as?
10. How many continents border the Indian Ocean?

Round 4: Medium Ocean Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What is the smallest ocean on Earth? The Arctic Ocean
2. The Celtic Sea is part of which ocean? The Southern Ocean
3. What is the most common unit to measure distances travelled at sea? Nautical Miles
4. Most tsunamis are caused by underwater whats? Earthquakes
5. What is the term for a strong surface current which moves from the coast out to sea? A rip current
6. Which ocean is home to the Mid-Ocean Ridge, the largest mountain range on Earth? Atlantic Ocean
7. Around 70% of the oxygen we breathe is created in the ocean. What kind of living creature is the largest underwater producer of oxygen? Plankton
8. What is an unusually large and unpredictable wave known as? A Rogue Wave
9. In 1997, an ultra-low-frequency, high volume, underwater noise became a target of suspicion and conspiracy theories. What was it known as? The Bloop
10. How many continents border the Indian Ocean? Four

Round 5: Hard Ocean Trivia Questions

1. Which ocean is the saltiest on average?
2. Which ocean is the shallowest on average?
3. What is the largest non-oceanic sea on Earth?
4. What is the only sea in the world with no land borders?
5. Which country controls the Malacca Strait, the most important shipping canal between the Indian and Pacific oceans?
6. What is the deepest underwater canyon in the world?
7. About 75% of sea creatures create their own light. What is this ability called?
8. Which two oceans meet at the Cape of Good Hope?
9. The Denmark Strait cataract is the largest underwater what in the world.
10. Which country, known for its stunning waters and white-sand beaches, is the most reliant on tourism in the world?

Round 5: Hard Ocean Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Which ocean is the saltiest on average? Atlantic Ocean
2. Which ocean is the shallowest on average? The Arctic Ocean
3. What is the largest non-oceanic sea on Earth? The Philippine Sea
4. What is the only sea in the world with no land borders? Sargasso sea
5. Which country controls the Malacca Strait, the most important shipping canal between the Indian and Pacific oceans? Malaysia
6. What is the deepest underwater canyon in the world? The Zhemchug Canyon
7. About 75% of sea creatures create their own light. What is this ability called? Bioluminosity
8. Which two oceans meet at the Cape of Good Hope? Atlantic and Indian Oceans
9. The Denmark Strait cataract is the largest underwater what in the world. Waterfall
10. Which country, known for its stunning waters and white-sand beaches, is the most reliant on tourism in the world? Maldives

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