The Whale Research Institute

Pacific        Atlantic

The Whale Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization        All Rights Reserved  •   ©2025

The Worldwide Data Buoy Network


The Worldwide Data Buoy Network is owned independently and operated cooperatively by multiple entities around the world to include National Maritime programs of many countries, public & private research institutes, major Universities, major gas & oil companies and others.


Information acquired from the world’s data buoy network is available over the Internet and by telephone, providing weather and seas condition information, via time delayed, data burst signaling.


Currently, there are just over 1,250 “Data Buoy’s” deployed worldwide. None gather ANY submerged wave phenomena data. And only 6 or so, provide any visual imaging. The Whale Research Institute Data Buoy Network fills a great void in scientific marine research data acquisition while providing worldwide distribution, live, 24/7/365, over the Internet.


To view data samples from currently deployed data buoys worldwide, click on the image to the left to access the NOAA, NDBC (National Data Buoy Center) Worldwide Data Buoy Network portal.  This link will take you directly to the chart of buoys seen on the left. Simply zoom in to any region you choose and click on any buoy to view the latest data received, from that buoy. Clicking the X, closes the buoy data window and returns you to the buoy chart, to choose another buoy or exit.


An example of the NDBC pages and information displayed for each Data Buoy, is shown below.

At the NOAA, National Data Buoy Center web site, you will see the large map shown above (top). As an example, we have zoomed in on Monterey Bay, California shown in this image. We chose a data buoy straight out above the Monterey Sea Canyon and we clicked on it’s Yellow Icon.

When the Yellow Icon for the buoy you have chosen is clicked, the “short form” of data last transmitted from that buoy, appears in text form in a Pop Up window, along with who owns and operates, that particular buoy.

Clicking on “Details” at the bottom of the Pop Up window, opens a new window in your browser application and displays additional and more detailed information as well as useful links relative to the information being provided.

NOAA National Data Buoy Center   World Data Buoy Chart

Click on the World Chart Above to Use the NDBC System