Many modern geologists overlook the significance of surface geology as it applies to offshore exploration. Such geologists tend to depend entirely on seismic data for evaluation of large areas along the continental margins of the world. Today there are tools available to the geologist which, where used together, can obtain essentially the same data as were obtained onshore by field mapping. These tools consist of dart sampling, shallow core drilling, SCUBA diving, sampling by submarine, shallow-penetration high-resolution sparker, etc. No one tool by itself can provide the total picture, nor can the same tools be used in all areas. Large areas still exist along the continental margins of the world where the geological picture can be compiled only by seismic programs and d ep core drilling. However many areas, especially the more tectonically active parts of the continental margins, have submarine outcrops. These can be studied in nearly the same manner as outcrop areas onshore.

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