To be fair
NOAA does do a fair deal of ocean exploration, as seen here:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/
Tom B also recently posted an item on one of the first missions to the
deepest part of the Pacific in decades. I wish more of these events
would get the same news publicity that space missions do, as they are
exciting and trying to reach and work with miles of ocean water above
your head is no picnic.