In Minecraft you won’t just find exciting things on land, but underwater too. With the Update Aquatic 1.13, the oceans were completely overhauled and have been refreshed with every update since. From varied biomes and intriguing ruins to new creatures, there are plenty of unique sights to discover. A dip into the deep is well worth it — just make sure you bring a Potion of Water Breathing so you don’t run out of air. Here’s what you can find and why a diving adventure is worth your time.
Minecraft ocean biomes: Temperatures, water colour and resources
Oceans in Minecraft are divided into different biomes. The key difference is temperature, which you won’t feel directly as a player, but you’ll notice visually — for example through the different water colour. Certain blocks and plants are also exclusive to specific biomes.
All Minecraft ocean biomes:
Warm Ocean: One of the most beautiful underwater biomes thanks to its colourful coral reefs. This is the only place to find these blocks and plants. The seabed is sand with plenty of seagrass (but no kelp). Pufferfish and tropical fish thrive here. You can also find sea pickles.
Lukewarm Ocean: You’ll find sand and clay here, plus some kelp and seagrass. Alongside tropical fish you’ll also see cod.
Ocean: The standard ocean is a mix of gravel, sand, clay and dirt. Kelp and seagrass grow tall. Tropical fish no longer appear, but you’ll now find dolphins, squid and the Nautilus.
Cold Ocean: The water turns a deep blue and the floor is mostly gravel. Some creatures disappear, but you’ll find cod and salmon here. The Nautilus likes it too.
Frozen Ocean: Characterised by icebergs and ice floes, this biome is easy to spot from the surface. You’ll find plenty of ice. There’s life here as well, such as polar bears. In the water you’ll find salmon, Nautilus and squid.
All variants (except warm oceans) also have deep versions. These are about 30 blocks deeper, making exploration more exciting. The overall look doesn’t change much, but there are more opportunities to uncover secrets. Some structures also appear here — more on those in a moment.
Minecraft ocean mobs: Dolphins, fish, Nautilus and squid
Minecraft’s oceans are teeming with life. Plenty of mobs now swim beneath the waves, and which ones you meet depends on the temperature. You’ll find unique creatures and monsters at sea, making an ocean trip well worth it.
Peaceful creatures in Minecraft’s oceans:
Fish: There are currently four fish types in Minecraft: pufferfish, tropical fish, salmon and cod. You’ll see them swimming as passive mobs and you can catch them by fishing. They bring the oceans to life and are a good food source.
Dolphins: Dolphins are very handy in the water, granting you a speed boost when you swim alongside them. You’ll find them in warmer oceans and you can even move them with a lead. Sometimes they leap gracefully out of the water.
(Glow) Squid: Squid are common in Minecraft’s seas and spawn pretty much anywhere there’s enough water. They’re the only renewable source of ink sacs. Their glowing variant also exists, but only spawns in deep oceans or underwater caves.
Nautilus: The Nautilus is relatively new and one of the coolest aquatic creatures. You can tame it and ride it, letting you breathe underwater. Read the full guide here: (Minecraft Nautilus Guide: Locations, Taming, Riding & Armour) . There’s also a zombie variant, which isn’t hostile but neutral.
Hostile mobs in the depths:
Drowned: Zombies that stay in water for too long become Drowned. They also spawn near ocean ruins. They often wield a trident.
Guardians: Strange underwater creatures that resemble mining tools. They’re found in ocean monuments, along with the Elder Guardian. They attack you (and other sea life) with laser beams.
Minecraft ocean structures: Caves, shipwrecks, ruins, monuments
It’s not just the wildlife that’s interesting — structures hide plenty of secret treasure as well. Brew a Potion of Water Breathing and head for the depths to uncover some of these mysteries. Or use a Nautilus to make exploration even easier.
Caves and ravines: Not structures in the strict sense, but you’ll often find them underwater. They can lead into large cave systems you might otherwise have missed.
Shipwrecks: Sunken ships are always a welcome sight as they often contain rare loot. You can find treasure maps (for a buried Heart of the Sea), armour for your Nautilus, or rare gems. Diving for wrecks is a great pastime.
Ocean ruins: Common in both small and large variants. In warm oceans they’re made of sandstone; in colder waters, stone bricks. They’re important for archaeology, as you can find pottery sherds here — and even a unique Sniffer Egg.
Ocean monuments: Found only in deep oceans, these vast monuments stand out thanks to their prismarine blocks and guardians. They’re among the largest structures in Minecraft and comprise various elements. You’ll also find rare sponges, some treasure like gold blocks, and sea lanterns for your builds. You can even turn a monument into an automatic farm — we’ve covered that here: (Building a Minecraft Sea Lantern Farm: Step-by-Step Guide) .
Conclusion: Explore Minecraft’s oceans and find rare treasure
Minecraft’s seas hold plenty of surprises and are absolutely worth an expedition. With the Nautilus, exploring is easier than ever — you won’t run out of breath and you can fight as you roam. From unique blocks like coral to ancient ruins, there’s a wealth to discover beneath the waves. Or take on a full ocean monument and defeat the Elder Guardian within.
Tame a Nautilus, rent a Minecraft server on our website and dive into the deep oceans to uncover rare treasure.
