Examination of an ancient sedimentary basin can provide only an incomplete geologic picture, because it reveals merely the anatomy of a dead body. Physiology must be learned on a living organism, and likewise the geologist must study the present ocean floors if he is to gain a full understanding of a sedimentary basin. On the sea floor processes of transportation, deposition, and early stages in consolidation can be investigated along with the accompanying "Recent paleogeography". Viewing a sedimentary basin as a succession of sea floors, each with its overlying body of water, will improve interpretation of facies and thus correlations. Better understanding of relations between sedimentary environments and the resulting sediments and of gradual development of lithofication should materially assist in the location of the most prospective areas for petroleum exploration.