Deep Ocean

The deep ocean is the open sea far from land, with a seafloor about twice as deep as a regular ocean. It is the home of ocean monuments, guardians and elder guardians. This deep ocean finder scans your seed and shows the nearest deep water on the map above. That makes it easy to locate a monument site or a quiet spot for an underwater base.

Where deep oceans generate

Deep oceans form where the land drops away even further than in a normal ocean. As a result, they rarely touch dry land. The one exception is the mushroom fields biome, which can rise straight out of deep water.

Temperature shapes the deep sea too. Warmer deep water becomes a deep lukewarm ocean, and colder water becomes a deep cold ocean. Islands are much rarer here than in shallow oceans.

On the map, deep oceans often look like long bands or wide basins between continents. Since they cover so much of the sea, you rarely need to travel far to reach one.

What you find in a deep ocean

The floor is gravel, often around Y=30. Kelp and seagrass grow across it, so the water feels like a dark underwater forest. Visibility drops quickly as you dive.

• Ocean monuments: large prismarine temples guarded by guardians and elder guardians.
• Other structures: shipwrecks, cold ocean ruins and ruined portals.
• Mobs: squid, cod, dolphins, the nautilus and drowned.

Monuments hold sponges and gold blocks. They also give you prismarine and sea lanterns for building.

How to find a deep ocean with this map

Without a map, you need a boat and patience. Sail away from the coast until the water turns darker and the seabed falls out of sight. An explorer map from a cartographer villager also points to the nearest ocean monument.

This finder is much quicker. Type your seed and select your edition. The map flies to the closest deep ocean and outlines it. Want other options? The list on the left shows further areas, so click one to center it.

Copy the coordinates and run /tp @s X 70 Z if cheats are on. Otherwise, set a waypoint and sail out.

Deep ocean tips

Prepare before you dive. Water breathing potions, a respiration helmet and Depth Strider boots make a huge difference. Night vision helps even more in the dark water.

Elder guardians give you Mining Fatigue when you get close to a monument. Therefore, bring milk to clear it, or plan to defeat all three elders first. After that, draining a monument with sand or sponges becomes possible.

Choosing a monument site

Not every deep ocean area is equally useful. A monument close to spawn saves travel, and one near a coast makes it easier to haul building materials. Therefore, compare a few entries in the list before you set out.

Look at the shape of the marked area too. A large, unbroken patch of deep water gives you more room for a guardian farm. Guardian farms drop prismarine shards, prismarine crystals and raw cod, and they produce a lot of experience. Meanwhile, a small patch squeezed between other oceans may still hold a monument, but there is less space around it.

Finally, remember that all deep ocean variants count. A deep lukewarm or deep cold area nearby can be just as good.

Deep ocean version history

The deep ocean arrived in Java 1.7.2. Ocean monuments followed in 1.8, along with guardians, prismarine and sponges. In 1.13, the Update Aquatic added kelp, shipwrecks and ocean ruins to the deep sea.

Deep Ocean FAQ