Fact check: The ocean covers most of our planet.

Verdict: mostly true — Trust Score 69/100

The Instagram post from @pubity, published on July 20, 2026, accurately states that the ocean covers most of our planet, with over 70% of Earth's surface being water. It also correctly highlights that only a small fraction of the ocean has been explored, with less than 10% explored in detail and less than 30% of the seafloor mapped at high resolution. The existence of underwater mountains and record-breaking creatures is also verified, as is the fact that some ocean depths have only been reached by a handful of people. Scientists continue to discover hundreds to over a thousand new marine species and mysteries annually, as confirmed by 3 reliable sources. While some imagery is artistic and the language can be sensational, the core factual claims are well-supported.

Platform
instagram
Source author
pubity — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/p/DbAP2yRDbas/?img_index=10&igsh=MWxtc3V5MmRwZDZ6OQ==
Verified on
July 21, 2026
Verification ID
DLAGGEH7PMuKX3CeGzxxxw

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @pubity --- Caption/Description --- The ocean covers most of our planet, yet we’ve explored only a small fraction of it. Beneath the surface lies a world of endless darkness, towering underwater mountains, record-breaking creatures, and places so deep that only a handful of people have ever reached them. Every year, scientists continue to uncover new species and mysteries hiding beneath the waves. #viral #pubity #interesting --- Carousel/Slides (11 items) --- Slide 1 (image): Text: WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THE OCEAN ISN'T SCARY SHOW THEM THIS Slide 2 (image): Text: THERE ARE UNDERWATER WAVES TALLER THAN SKYSCRAPERS Slide 3 (image): Text: SOME CREATURES MAKE THEIR OWN LIGHT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS Slide 4 (image): Text: THE PRESSURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN COULD CRUSH YOU INSTANTLY Slide 5 (image): Text: THE DEEPEST PART OF THE OCEAN IS DEEPER THAN MOUNT EVEREST IS TALL Slide 6 (image): Text: SUNLIGHT CAN'T REACH MOST OF THE OCEAN Slide 7 (image): Text: MORE THAN 80% OF THE OCEAN HAS NEVER BEEN EXPLORED Slide 8 (image): Text: SCIENTISTS STILL DISCOVER HUNDREDS OF NEW OCEAN SPECIES EVERY YEAR Slide 9 (image): Text: GIANT SQUID CAN GROW LONGER THAN A SCHOOL BUS Slide 10 (image): Text: THE OCEAN IS SO VAST THAT WE KNOW MORE ABOUT MARS THAN ITS DEEPEST PARTS Slide 11 (image): Text: If you like interesting content Pubity is the page for you Published: 2026-07-20T06:00:06.000Z ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @pubity --- Caption/Description --- The ocean covers most of our planet, yet we’ve explored only a small fraction of it. Beneath the surface lies a world of endless darkness, towering underwater mountains, record-breaking creatures, and places so deep that only a handful of people have ever reached them. Every year, scientists continue to uncover new species and mysteries hiding beneath the waves. #viral #pubity #interesting --- Claims to Verify --- 1. The ocean covers most of our

Claims analyzed (14)

  1. verified: The ocean covers most of our planet.
    Multiple sources confirm that the ocean covers approximately 70-71% of Earth's surface.
  2. verified: Only a small fraction of the ocean has been explored.
    Sources indicate that while satellite mapping has covered the entire seafloor, high-resolution mapping is only around 28.7% as of April 2026. True exploration, involving direct observation, is estimated to be less than 5-10%, with some sources stating less than 0.001% of the deep ocean seafloor has been visually surveyed.
  3. verified: Beneath the ocean surface are underwater mountains.
    Numerous sources confirm the existence of underwater mountains, also known as seamounts, which are formed by volcanic activity and rise thousands of meters from the seafloor. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prominent example of a submarine mountain chain.
  4. mostly true: Record-breaking creatures exist beneath the ocean surface.
    Recent discoveries in 2026 include a 150-foot-long siphonophore, which is twice as long as many blue whales, and giant amphipods up to 12 inches long. These illustrate the existence of unusually large or unique creatures in the deep ocean.
  5. verified: Some places in the ocean are so deep that only a handful of people have reached them.
    The Mariana Trench, specifically the Challenger Deep, is the deepest known point on Earth, at nearly 11,000 meters below the surface. Since the first dive in 1960, there have been fewer than 30 diving expeditions to this depth, confirming that only a very limited number of individuals have reached these extreme depths.
  6. verified: Scientists uncover new species and mysteries in the ocean every year.
    In 2026 alone, the Ocean Census project announced the identification of 1,121 previously unknown marine species, marking a significant increase in the annual discovery rate. Other expeditions have also reported dozens of new species.
  7. misleading: There are underwater waves taller than skyscrapers.
    While internal waves (underwater waves) exist and can be very large, reaching hundreds of feet, the claim of them being 'taller than skyscrapers' is an exaggeration. Skyscrapers can be over 1,000 feet tall, and while some internal waves can be hundreds of feet, equating them to 'taller than skyscrapers' is a sensationalized comparison.
  8. verified: The pressure at the bottom of the ocean could crush you instantly.
    The pressure at the deepest parts of the ocean, such as the Mariana Trench, is immense, approximately 1,000 times greater than atmospheric pressure at sea level. This extreme pressure would indeed be instantly fatal to an unprotected human.
  9. mostly true: The deepest part of the ocean is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
    Mount Everest is approximately 8,849 meters tall, while the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is nearly 11,000 meters deep, making the deepest part of the ocean significantly deeper than Mount Everest is high.
  10. mostly true: Sunlight can't reach most of the ocean.
    Sunlight only penetrates the uppermost layers of the ocean. The vast majority of the ocean, particularly the deep sea, is in perpetual darkness, which is why many deep-sea creatures have adapted with bioluminescence or other sensory mechanisms.
  11. verified: More than 80% of the ocean has never been explored.
    This claim aligns with current estimates that over 80% of the ocean remains unmapped or unobserved in detail, and less than 10% has been explored in real detail.
  12. verified: Scientists still discover hundreds of new ocean species every year.
    In 2026, the Ocean Census project reported the discovery of 1,121 new marine species in a single year. Other expeditions have also contributed to the discovery of dozens of new species annually.
  13. mostly true: Giant squid can grow longer than a school bus.
    Giant squid are known to be one of the largest invertebrates, with some reports indicating they can reach lengths of up to 43 feet (13 meters) for females, which is comparable to or longer than a typical school bus (around 35-45 feet).
  14. mostly true: The ocean is so vast that we know more about Mars than its deepest parts.
    This statement is widely supported by scientific sources. Robotic orbiters have mapped the entire surface of Mars with high resolution, while less than 30% of Earth's ocean floor has been mapped to modern standards, and only a tiny fraction of the deep ocean has been visually explored.

Sources consulted (24)

Related verifications

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