A review article on world bathymetric mapping activity over the last quarter century from a Soviet perspective provides information about Soviet mapping programs of the deep sea and continental shelf. In addition, it addresses a number of methodological issues in bathymetric mapping which are attributed to the lag between advances in practical mapping activity and the development of cartographic theory-the selection of isobath intervals and appropriate scales for different sea floor features and intended map uses, and the proper use of layer tinting and other graphic techniques to depict variations in water depth without obscuring details of submarine topography.