-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A2v29DEK/dwCjoBfHJ/TLR6jmV+JOJBdBIKzUEu2kaFVyDWC81+t2CG3ihT/qtlu
 tIu5N4RX9t2TSPFeoKuHyA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001263279-08-000115.txt : 20080509
<SEC-HEADER>0001263279-08-000115.hdr.sgml : 20080509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080509162444
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001263279-08-000115
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080509
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080509

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Holmes Michael J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001292525

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31895
		FILM NUMBER:		08818757

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(813) 876-1776

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3604 SWANN AVENUE
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33609

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798528
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER TRANSPORTATION [4400]
		IRS NUMBER:				841018684
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 WEST LAUREL STREET
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(813) 876-1776

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 WEST LAUREL STREET
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33607

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL CAPITAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798528</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OMEX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292525</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Holmes Michael J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5215 WEST LAUREL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TAMPA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of OMEX common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments beginning December 31, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David A. Morris, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex24-holmes.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
EXHIBIT 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of Michael Holmes and David A. Morris, signing singly, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, to:

(1)  execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer and/or director of Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.
(the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2)  do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Forms 3,
4 and 5 and timely file such form with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and

(3)  take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit
to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it
being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on
behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this power of attorney shall be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may
approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the
rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of
substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the
foregoing attorney-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

    This power of attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to
the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the
Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this power of attorney to
be executed as of this 10th day of January, 2008.


                                       /s/ Michael Holmes
                                       Michael Holmes

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
