API Documentation

Integrate OpenOcean data directly into your applications

OpenOcean API Overview

Our RESTful API provides programmatic access to ocean monitoring data collected by the OpenOcean and REEFlect networks. Use this API to integrate real-time and historical ocean data into your applications, research projects, or visualization tools.

Comprehensive Data

Access temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and specialized reef monitoring data

Multiple Formats

Data available in JSON, CSV, and Excel formats for easy integration with your tools

Authentication

Simple API key authentication for secure access to all endpoints

Base URL

https://api.openocean.org

Authentication

All API requests require an api_key parameter. You can get your API key by registering for a free OpenOcean developer account.

https://api.openocean.org/v1/data/temperature?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

Get an API key

Code Examples

curl -X GET "https://api.openocean.org/v1/data/temperature?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&format=json"

API Endpoints

GET/v1/data/{dataset}

Retrieve a specific dataset

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
format	string	No	Response format (json, csv, excel). Defaults to json.
start_date	string	No	Start date for time-series data (YYYY-MM-DD)
end_date	string	No	End date for time-series data (YYYY-MM-DD)
buoy_id	string	No	Filter by specific buoy ID

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/data/temperature?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&format=json

GET/v1/buoys

Get a list of all buoys in the network

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter buoys by geographic region
status	string	No	Filter by buoy status (active, warning, offline)

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/buoys?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

GET/v1/buoys/{buoy_id}

Get details and current readings for a specific buoy

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
include_history	boolean	No	Include recent historical readings

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/buoys/B001?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

GET/v1/reef/health

Get REEFlect coral reef health metrics

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
reef_id	string	No	Filter by specific reef ID
risk_level	string	No	Filter by bleaching risk level (low, medium, high)

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/reef/health?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

GET/v1/currents

Get ocean current velocity and direction data

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter by geographic region
depth	number	No	Filter by depth in meters

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/currents?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&region=pacific

GET/v1/biodiversity

Get marine biodiversity index and species abundance data

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter by geographic region
species_group	string	No	Filter by species group (fish, coral, algae, etc.)

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/biodiversity?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

GET/v1/turbidity

Get water clarity and particle suspension measurements

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter by geographic region
start_date	string	No	Start date for time-series data (YYYY-MM-DD)
end_date	string	No	End date for time-series data (YYYY-MM-DD)

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/turbidity?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&region=coastal

GET/v1/chlorophyll

Get chlorophyll concentration data for phytoplankton activity

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter by geographic region
depth	number	No	Filter by depth in meters

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/chlorophyll?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

GET/v1/waves

Get wave height, frequency, and direction measurements

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter by geographic region
storm_event	boolean	No	Filter for storm event data only

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/waves?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

GET/v1/microplastics

Get microplastic particle concentration data

Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
api_key	string	Yes	Your API authentication key
region	string	No	Filter by geographic region
particle_size	string	No	Filter by particle size range (micro, nano)

Example

https://api.openocean.org/v1/microplastics?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&region=pacific_gyre

REEFlect API Integration

Through our partnership with REEFlect, we offer specialized coral reef monitoring endpoints with enhanced metrics for reef health assessment, coral bleaching prediction, and ecosystem analysis.

REEFlect API Documentation