Hey guys, Redwaller here. I am making this thread due to the fact that I cannot post in the original oceans biome issue for some mysterious reason. Anyways, here are my ideas, for an addition for the planned major update.

I am loving the fact that the next major update after making the mod 1.5.1 compatible will include ocean biomes. I deffinately agree that starfish being used like TF's fireflys is a must. Also the kelp forests, and coral reefs.
I think occasional ship wrecks would be an amazing addition to the mod. They could include treasure chests that contain diamonds, gold, emeralds, scuba gear, redstone, torchs, sulfur(gunpowder), and, rarely, glowstone dust. Perhaps have an underwater biome: shipwreck graveyard, which contain a lot of different wrecks, some of them containing treasure chests.
Have some ship wrecks cracked in half like the titanic, some rolled over all the way, some on their side, some just rested normally, etc.
The ships would all be wooden styles of galleon, frigate, man-o-war, etc.

Perhaps have the occasional shipwreck half submerged, half on a rocky shoreline?

Another cool edition could potentially be an algae layer in places, similar to that of snow layers. With a shovel, one could scoop up the algeo layer, and receive 1-2 slimeballs. As another way to receive that item.
I think the atmosphere of some of the deeper, underwater biomes should be murky, and harder to see than usual.
Underwater torch kind of idea? Yes,it was mentioned above, and yes tere are jack-o-lanterns, and glowstones, but something....more? That one could get relatively early on in the game?

I love the idea of shipwrecks....Right now the only mod that I know of that adds them is the Fossil/Archeology mod....and their treasure chests contain items pertinent to their mod as well as things like iron and gold bars, eggs and potions and empty bottles. I think I even found one with diamond blocks once. Of course we would have to balance that out...as we wouldn't want it to be over powered. I think it would also be cool if some of the chests...especially ones with ore/bars/gems were like a puzzle to open or that you had to find a special key...perhaps hidden somewhere on the wreck to make them more of a challenge. If you didn't have the key they couldn't be opened or broken or blown up..etc.

I like the algae layer as well, especially as a source for slimeballs as I play on peaceful mode, but like to be able to make things without cheating items in. It's very irritating to need to craft something that requires an item only dropped by monsters. :P

Regarding the underground torch...Scott had gotten permission from the person that made the phosphorus cave mod to use her code as she stopped being able to mod. It would make sense to use something like that as a torch...or perhaps bio-luminescence from certain fish found in our ocean biome or from glowing mushrooms/plants.

Ideas have been added to the Oceans Biome document on the google drive. This biome will be added in a future release.