-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A05dfBpxPHIjIfxDU4H9/SC3JSRqLYaBESpm6WSXczlNfBhbEotXmemhvaUsWXH7
 2KF9He1M08etjJAQhYc0gQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000948830-03-000171.txt : 20030805
<SEC-HEADER>0000948830-03-000171.hdr.sgml : 20030805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030805153700
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000948830-03-000171
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030805

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LACKMAN GEORGE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001247792

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26136
		FILM NUMBER:		03823737

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4621 GANDY BLVD
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33611

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798528
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				841018684
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 320057
		STREET 2:		3604 SAWANN AVE
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33609
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8132820855

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 320057
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33679

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247792</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LACKMAN GEORGE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17906 SIMMS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ODESSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33556</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-08-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The warrants expire upon the earlier of (a) two years after a registration statement relating to the resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is declared effective or (b) August 1, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ George Lackman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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