Over a number of years, we have developed methods for structure directed detection and isolation of novel natural products from marine organisms. Techniques have been developed to concentrate secondary metabolites from crude extracts enabling NMR examination. Two-dimensional NMR experiments were used to screen for the presence of secondary metabolites, and methods were developed to determine structural fragments without the need for complete purification. These techniques were also used to partially answer the question: do tropical marine invertebrates produce more secondary metabolites then temperate water species?