-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001263279-09-000027.txt : 20090127
<SEC-HEADER>0001263279-09-000027.hdr.sgml : 20090127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090127165355
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001263279-09-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090126
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090127
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Nudi Jay
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001348998

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31895
		FILM NUMBER:		09548700

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

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

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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001348998</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nudi Jay</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>Principal Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stcok Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5834</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5834</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29167</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 26, 2006, the reporting person was granted an option to purchase 17,500 shares of common stock to vest upon the issuer meeting certain performance criteria. Based on the terms of the option agreement, effective January 26, 2009 the option vested as to 5,834 shares. On January 26, 2006, the reporting person also received options to purchase 17,500 shares of common stock on the same terms and conditions which were only subject to time vesting provisions and were reported at that time. Those options are included in the number of options held following the reported transaction.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jay Nudi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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