71 Unexpected Ocean Photos That Might Freak You Out

One of the most popular vacation destinations is simply “the beach.” Doesn’t matter what country or state it’s in, if humans have the opportunity to sit in sand, swim in waves, and enjoy sunshine, they’re going to take advantage of it. But when we visit the beach, we often forget just how mysterious the oceans are. After all, you’re unlikely to encounter any strange creatures on the shore.

But according to the BBC’s Science Focus, there are some major mysteries about the ocean that scientists still can’t explain. The first one is why orcas are seemingly going out of their way to end the lives of great white sharks. They’ve been washing ashore with their livers ripped out, but nobody knows exactly why they're being targeted. 

Another massive mystery is where exactly all of the Earth’s water came from in the first place. Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago, but scientists only have theories about how the majority of the planet became covered in oceans. 

“The first [theory] is that Earth formed in a region of space where there was material like rocks and things like that, but also water in some form,” Dr. Helena Bates, a postdoctoral researcher in meteorite science, told the BBC. “The second theory is that Earth formed in a region of space where it was too hot to have any kind of water. And the water that we have on Earth now was delivered post-formation by other bodies in the Solar System.”

Something else mysterious that’s been discovered deep in the ocean is the Yonaguni Monument. Off the coast of Japan’s southernmost Ryukyu Island, there’s a strange rock formation that has many strange features. Divers have noticed “perpendicular stacked sandstone blocks, parallel joints, a spiral ‘staircase’ and strange etchings,” the BBC explains. But scientists still don't agree on whether this fascinating monument was naturally formed or man-made. 

Another curious aspect of the ocean is the seafloor. The deepest parts of it are over 36,000 feet below sea level, which is about 6,500 feet (or 2 kilometers) deeper than the height of Mount Everest. So it’s not exactly easy for scientists to get themselves or their equipment down there. And according to Dr. Jingchuan Wang at the University of Maryland, there might be many ancient structures still waiting to be discovered at the bottom of the ocean.   

Scientists also believe that 91% of ocean species have yet to be classified. We already know an impressive 236,000 marine species, but it looks like we’ll keep discovering more and more for a long time. Some of the largest sea creatures that we currently know about include the blue whale, whale shark, and the giant Pacific octopus. And on the other end of the spectrum, one of the smallest, if not the smallest, sea creatures is the tiny Irukandji jellyfish. This little guy measures only 1 cubic centimeter long. 

If you don’t live anywhere near a beach, you might not think about the ocean on a daily basis. But regardless of how far it is from your home, it’s important that we all do our part to protect the world’s oceans. According to the Marine Conservation Institute, the ocean is responsible for generating over half of the oxygen that we breathe. But unfortunately, the way that humans live and treat the planet has had devastating impacts on the ocean.  

To take better care of the ocean, the National Ocean Service recommends first conserving water. It’s also a good idea to reduce pollutants and use nontoxic chemicals. Even reducing your waste can help, as there’s already far too much trash floating around in the ocean. And you might love seafood, but it’s a good idea to cut down on how much you consume. Industrial fishing is one of the leading drivers of declines in ocean wildlife populations, the World Wildlife Fund reports.

We hope you’re enjoying this journey into the depths of the ocean, pandas! Keep upvoting the photos that fascinate you, and let us know in the comments if you’ve ever found any particularly interesting things while scuba diving or walking along the beach. Then, if you’re still curious about what’s lurking in the ocean, we’ve got another Bored Panda article that might pique your interest right here!