Deep Ocean

The Deep Ocean biome is a common biome you will run into often, generated in the Overworld dimension and classed as an ocean biome. Its climate is mild and temperate, so the Deep Ocean gets rainfall. In technical terms the game tracks it with a temperature value of 0.5 and the biome ID minecraft:deep_ocean.

Its defining terrain features are very deep water, ocean floor far below and ocean monuments. Much deeper than regular oceans. Ocean Monuments with Elder Guardians generate exclusively in deep ocean variants. Guardians patrol around monuments.

The Deep Ocean biome was added to Minecraft in 1.7.2 and is still generated in version 1.21. Like all Overworld biomes it is shaped by the surrounding temperature and humidity, so the exact borders of any Deep Ocean you find will shift from world to world.

The Deep Ocean biome only generates in the Overworld. It commonly borders Ocean, Cold Ocean and Lukewarm Ocean, so finding any of those is a good sign you are close.

Sail out until the seabed drops far below; the deeper variants are where monuments appear.

If cheats or operator permissions are available, the fastest method is the command “/locate biome minecraft:deep_ocean”, which points you to the nearest Deep Ocean and gives its coordinates. Without commands you have to explore for the Deep Ocean on foot: because it is common, ordinary travel through the Overworld will usually reveal one before long.

On the peaceful side, the Deep Ocean biome is home to Squid and Cod. The Squid, for example, drops ink sacs used for black dye and books-and-quill. Together they make the Deep Ocean a useful place to gather fish and other aquatic resources.

On the dangerous side of the Deep Ocean biome, watch for Dolphin, Drowned and Guardian. The Dolphin leads players to the nearest shipwreck or ruin treasure when fed raw cod and grants a speed boost while swimming, while the Drowned is an underwater zombie that can wield a trident and drops nautilus shells.

The blocks that give the Deep Ocean biome its character include Gravel, Seagrass and Kelp. Within the Deep Ocean, Gravel, Seagrass and Kelp are the most useful to gather early, whether for building, crafting or decoration.

Players typically visit the Deep Ocean biome to collect kelp, which makes it a worthwhile stop for that resource.

The Deep Ocean biome can generate an Ocean Monument, a prismarine temple guarded by Elder Guardians and concealing hidden gold blocks, Ocean Ruins, sunken stone structures with buried-treasure maps and loot chests and a Shipwreck, a sunken vessel whose chests can hold treasure maps, supplies and emeralds.

With Ocean Monument, Ocean Ruins and Shipwreck all able to appear in the Deep Ocean biome, it is well worth exploring thoroughly, as each of these 3 structures offers its own loot and challenges.