Abstract This paper explores the spreading feature of the Whittaker-Gaussian light beam (WG) propagating through turbulent oceanic environments by utilizing the diffraction integral formula and under the Rytov approximation theory. From the analytical formula, some numerical simulations are derived and analyzed to examine the evolution of the axial intensity of the corresponding beam propagating through oceanic turbulence. The outcomes that were achieved show that the development of the variation of the intensity of the WG beam depends strongly on its starting parameters and oceanic variables including the wavelength, the beam waist, the dissipation rate of mean-square temperature, the ratio of temperature to salinity fluctuation and the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy per unit mass of ocean. The outcomes acquired by our simulations have significant applications in the fields of subsea optical communication and imaging technologies.