Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Income tax net operating loss carryforwards	$ 138,000,000
Income Taxes (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
Net deferred tax asset
Tax benefits and (liabilities), prior to any valuation allowances, related to stock option plans	248,038	0
Federal income tax rate	34.00%	34.00%
2017 through 2021 [Member]
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Income tax net operating loss carryforwards	8,000,000
2022 through 2026 [Member]
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Income tax net operating loss carryforwards	80,500,000
2027 through 2031 [Member]
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Income tax net operating loss carryforwards	$ 50,000,000
Start [Member]
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration year	2013
End [Member]
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration year	2032

Name:	omex_IncomeTaxesAdditionalTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	omex_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	omex_IncomeTaxesTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	omex_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax benefits and (liabilities), prior to any valuation allowances, related to stock option plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	omex_TaxBenefitsAndLiabilitiesPriorToAnyValuationAllowancesRelatedToStockOptionPlans
Namespace Prefix:	omex_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, net of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards that are subject to expiration dates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6889476&loc=d3e330036-122817

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expiration date of each operating loss carryforward included in total operating loss carryforwards, or the applicable range of such expiration dates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 48

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsExpirationDates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration