​The Ocean Data Viewer (ODV) offers users the opportunity to view and download a range of global datasets on coastal and marine biodiversity (such as corals, mangroves and seagrasses). These datasets have been used and cited in high-profile scientific articles and in global, regional and national biodiversity assessments. Having been accessed in more than 100 countries by academic and research institutes as well as governmental, non-governmental, and UN-associated organizations, these datasets have been utilised for marine spatial planning, habitat mapping and biodiversity and ecosystem analyses. These data come from internationally respected scientific institutions and other organizations that have agreed to make their data available to the global community, with the hope that these data will support and encourage informed decision-making that sustains global biodiversity and ecosystem services. ODV datasets are available in standard GIS formats, while a simple mapping interface enables users to explore individual datasets and overlay them with other data layers. The ODV aims to raise the importance of data sharing, accessibility and updating, and users are encouraged to contribute. To complement the ODV, the Manual of marine and coastal datasets of biodiversity importance was created to provide an overview of more than 100 global marine and coastal datasets of biodiversity importance, with detailed metadata sheets for more than half of these resources and information on the various challenges, gaps and limitations that can be presented by coastal and marine data.