OCEAN CHARTS
This page contains links to online bathymetric and ocean charts and several online indexes for the UC San Diego Library's print chart collection.
- The Chart indexes that are available online are noted on this page. Charts are not cataloged and do not appear in the library catalog.
- Access & questions: the print collection of charts is stored in a protected environment facility, contact Teri Vogel for any questions, email: tmvogel@ucsd.edu
NOS/NOAA Charts
Covers US and territorial waters. A complete collection, that is not updated with Notice to Mariners; therefore this is a reference collection and unsuited for navigation.- NOAA/NOS Online Chart Viewer
- This is a pan-around & zoom online viewer...updated with Notice to Mariners. Includes index to the charts.
- BSB raster navigational chart files of complete charts. Use a BSB file viewer.
- Convert BSB format charts to TIF, JPG, PNG, etc., an example being a SourceForge Windows utility for converting BSB files.
- NOS Office of Coast Survey: U.S. Bathymetric & Fishing Maps
- PDF versions of complete charts
- Electronic Navigational Charts - ENC: Vector nautical chart data, updated weekly, and built for modern navigational systems
- HISTORICAL CHARTS
- NOAA Coastal Survey: Reports and Updates
- NOAA Certified Chart Agents and ENC Distributors
NGA Charts
The UC San Diego Library owns a complete collection, until NGA (the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) discontinued paper chart distribution in June 2010. Our charts were not updated from Notice to Mariners; therefore this is a reference collection and unsuited for navigation. Paper indexes to the collection are listed below.- NGA CHART INDEXES
- Region 1: North America
- Region 2: Central & South America & Antartica
- Region 3: Western Europe, Iceland, Greenland, & Arctic
- Region 4: Scandinavia, Baltic, & Russia
- Region 5: Western Africa & Mediterranean
- Region 6: Indian Ocean
- Region 7: Australia, Indonesia, & New Zealand
- Region 8: Oceania
- Region 9: East Asia
- Miscellaneous
- Cross Index between old HO and CS chart numbers and current NO/DMA/NIMA/NGA chart numbers
- NGA Paper Charts from Certified Chart Agents
General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans - GEBCO
British Admiralty Charts
Worldwide waters. Not a current or complete collection. British charts usually offer better detailed coverage for waters around Commonwealth countries, e.g. Fiji, British Virgin Islands, etc. Paper index to the British charts is available, for any questions on these charts please contact tmvogel@ucsd.edu- ADMIRALTY Charts: Includes Vector Chart Service, Standard Nautical Charts, and Planning Charts
Mexican Charts
A fairly complete collection, including older charts in an earlier numbering scheme. Paper index to the Mexican charts is available, but the index linked below is easier to use than the print index.
- INDEX (downloaded from www.semar.gob.mx)
- INDEX 1 & INDEX 2 to OLDER charts with the earlier chart numbering scheme
- Sea of Cortez Charts & Cruising Guides : Charlie's Charts have unique charting details and information for the Gulf of California, that you won't find in the government-produced charts. Their website was retired but their charts are available for sale from Amazon books, or American Nautical Services, or Pilothouse and others that you can find from doing a Google search.
Australian Charts
Coverage of Australian waters, Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea, & Antarctic water. A strong collectionCanadian Charts
Canadian Hydrographic Service's website for digital and print publications. They do not sell to the public, but provide a Dealer Locator to find the chart and dealer in areas closest to you.French Charts
Not a complete collection. French charts usually offer better detailed coverage for waters around French territories than U.S. charts, i.e. French Polynesia.Iranian Charts
Coverage of Iranian waters & Persian Gulf. A fairly complete collectionIndonesian Charts
Coverage of Indonesian waters. We collect in areas where the Indonesian charts offer better coverage than the U.S. and British charts.Japanese Charts
Coverage of Japan & East Asian waters, Pacific & Indian Oceans, and Japanese area of Antarctica. Not a complete collection.- Japan Hydrographic Association
- Purchasing Charts by Japan Hydrographic Association (JHA) and Japan Coast Guard (JCA)
SIO-Produced Charts
Historically SIO produced many paper charts and maps relating to research interests. These are filed within the collection's geographic filing arrangement. Some of the better known SIO produced charts include:
- Bathymetry of the North Pacific. J Mammerickx, SM Smith, IL Taylor, TE Chase. UC Institute of Marine Resources Technical Report 3,6-15. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1970. Ten sheets.
- Surface Sediments and Topography of the North Pacific Ocean. J Frazier, DL Hawkins, A Arrhenius, J Mammerickx, TE Chase, HW Menard. UC Institute of Marine Resources Technical Report 27-36. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1972. Ten sheets.
- Bathymetry of the South Pacific. J Mammerickx, SM Smith, IL Taylor, TE Chase. UC Institute of Marine Resources Technical Report 45A-54A. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1971-1974. Eleven sheets.
- Topography of the South Pacific. J Mammerickx, SM Smith, IL Taylor, TE Chase. UC Institute of Marine Resources Technical Report 45A-56. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1975. 1:6,500,000
Other Chart Resources
- U.S. Interagency Elevation Inventory : includes bathymetric data for the U.S. & its territories
- California Coastal Mapping Program
- PlaniGlobe : vector map creation
- International Centre for Electronic Nautical Charts