What is thalassophobia, you may ask? Thalassophobia is a persistent and intense fear of deep water, such as the ocean or sea. What makes this phobia different from aquaphobia — the fear of water in general — is the fact that it centers on vastness, darkness, and depth. People who have this condition are not terrified of getting wet but rather of the might and mystique behind the waves.
It is, in fact, a scary thought — the endless depth of the ocean underneath your boat with unknown creatures filling the vast voids of unexplored seas. No, scratch that — you might even start getting uncomfortable just by looking at pictures depicting the endlessness of the deep blue seas!
And if you were wondering what it is like to have thalassophobia or what images could cause this unsettling feeling, take a look at our selection of photos from the Thalassophobia subreddit. While we agree that at first glance, they are just beautiful, there indeed is a certain unsettling aura about them!
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Kayaking With The Giants!
Grand Turks 700 Ft Drop
How Do I Know If I Have Thalassophobia?
If you experience feelings of anxiety and fear about the sea or any other large body of water, chances are, you have thalassophobia. The fear you might be experiencing is usually disproportionate to the danger the water poses to you at a given moment - the body of water might be calm as a mirror and still give you these unsettling feelings. As for the symptoms, thalassophobia shares them with other specific phobias, such as claustrophobia, and includes:
- Sudden onset of anxiety or fear;
- Shaking and trembling;
- Sweating;
- Dry mouth;
- Increased heart rate or heart palpitations;
- Difficulty breathing, including hyperventilating;
- Chest pain;
- Fear of losing control.
Orcas In The Waves
This Seaweed Through Clear Water
Underwater Waterfall
I saw this picture and my anxiety just got turned up FULL BLAST
What is Thalassophobia Caused By?
Thalassophobia could be caused by traumatic events, such as a childhood near-drowning experience, witnessing a shark attack, never learning to swim, or even being told scary stories of the ocean.
By associating a specific situation, such as being in deep water, with a panic response, over time, a phobia of that situation can develop.
However, if you’re unsure whether you do have thalassophobia or not, you can always take a thalassophobia test on the internet and discuss it with your mental health professional.
"Uhhhh, There's More Than Just Kelp And Angelfish Down Here, Over"
British Underwater Photographer Of The Year Winner 2022
Words Fail Me
Is To Me Or Are Black Tiled Pools Terrifying
Robert knew as soon as he had purchased that house that he had made a terrible mistake, he should have known better, he had watched so many horror movies, after all.
Maybe it's just me, but I would kinda love to have an indoor pool tiled all in black.
It looks like a bottomless dark pool that will just engulf you in its darkness until you run out of air.
I would love that. Float some flowers in there, take some amazing photos.
Are we sure this isn’t just a tinted mirror? Or is that wishful thinking?
Shoot the architect. Or better...drown them in their ridiculous pool. (easthetically it IS rather good, though!!!)
this is so scary because the water is just black at first i thot it wuz a mirror bro that one got me
I remember as a little girl, my mom would take me to a public indoor batn. There was a small pool there, with black tiles or black painted concrete bottom and walls. I still have occational nightmares of that pool.
Setting for a modern reimagining of Dante's Divine Comedy directed by Guillermo del Toro and David Lynch
...all the pool floaties are required to look like corpses, and fun noodles must resemble limbs, if you want to swim here. Them's the rules.
See "eels song - mighty boosh" on YouTube , of your not familiar with it already ...... It's not well known outside of UK.
Load More Replies... It reminds me of the Potion of Despair from Harry-Potter and the half blood prince. that big lake in the cave or whatever
Many years ago, I had a job which involved investigating complaints about the local government. A guy complained because the government wouldn't let him have a black pool instead of the usual blue. They explained that it was not uncommon for funnel web spiders (which can be fatal) to fall into the pool and live for up to a week. With a black pool, it would be impossible to see them. They also pointed that broken glass on the bottom would be invisible. Seemed reasonable to me so I told black pool guy 'tough, mate'.
Unhygienic as well as scary... How would you know if someone had done a nasty in it!!??!! Nope.
I didn't even know these existed. This would scare the bejeezus out of me.
This is a bit unnerving. I want to know what is in the water. Much worse than not being able to see in the ocean.
Looks like a big pool of ink. And it probably makes you think there could be something in there, then you put your feet in and you realize it's just black tile.
Just put "Slim Aarons" name on the photo and it'll become a million dollar wanna-have!
Terrfying, I have nightmares with those... you never know what is in the water.
Honestly, I've never seen one before. I think it looks like a place of serenity.
I think jaws or piranhas or dead bodies! If I can’t see the bottom, I ain’t going in!
The water is too still..... GERONIMO!!! (Uh, just tell me where the deep end is)
It's a big ol nope from me. I do not like going in water I cannot see the bottom of. Never have. I'm creeped out right now just thinking about it. Thank being said, I do go in the ocean and lakes...just can't stand it...but I do make the effort.
We have a really dark blue (almost black) pool. Actually anything can be seen much better with a dark background. Except a black GoPro (experience).
I've swum in a black pool, felt very nice, but it also had black tiles around it making it looking less like a bottomles pit.
I make $100h while I'm traveling the world. Last week I worked by my laptop in Rome, Monti Carlo and finally Paris…This week I'm back in the USA. All I do are easy tasks from this one cool site. check it out, ==>=>) https://www.site.works53.com
As we’ve mentioned in the beginning, it’s the mere thought about the depth of the ocean or creatures lurking in the bottom of a body of water that might cause thalassophobia, and the images from the Thalassophobia subreddit illustrate it really well.
The group itself is very dedicated to the quality of its content and fostering a welcoming environment both for thalassophobes and ocean lovers. Interested to learn more about the community, we contacted the moderators of 'Thalassophobia', and they were kind enough to have a little chat with us.
"Our core mod group has 4 active members, which is a small team for a subreddit of our size," they told Bored Panda. "Compared to other subreddits of our size, we don't feel like we police posts or comments as much. The reason we do so little policing can probably be explained by our subreddit's niche context that revolves around a very specific set of inoffensive content.”
Taken Off The Coast Of Southern California 2 Weeks Ago
“We're just a bunch of people sharing stories, images, and videos of bodies of water that leave us in awe, wonder, and trepidation. Whenever we do police content, it's usually because it's a repost or focuses on a sea creature rather than the vastness of the ocean or the unknown depths of a body of water. We prefer for the ocean/water to play the primary role in content."
The Pacific Ocean
The mods also said the 'Thalassophobia' community is very passionate and filled with both ocean-fearing and ocean-loving people. "Based on previous polls we've had in the subreddit, it's split roughly 50/50 between those [two groups]."
"Although half of the community loves the ocean, everyone understands that there are people with a fear of deep water, and everyone is respectful of that in their posts and comments. It's a great community to be a moderator in," they explained.
That’s Creepy
The Deadliest Stream In The World - It Looks Normal, But Underneath It Is Full Of Caves Of Powerful Fast Moving Water That Will Drag You Down. 100% Fatality Rate
“The Big One”
When You Fear Of Flying And Your Fear Of Water Meet Each Other
Beach Weather Is Upon Us!
The Eye Of S(E)auron.
Why Is Deep Water So Scary?
Although each one of us has different answers to the question, we have some thoughts about it, too. Deep water might appear frightful because of our inherited fear of the unknown — sounds simple, but it is still spooky. Then, there’s the factor of vulnerability as deep water and being in them makes us feel really small and exposed.
Also, add the distinctive feeling of isolation when there’s nothing around you, just water, some more water, and a bit more of it, and you suddenly feel very alone and helpless. And lastly, the darkness of the bottom as if you’re staring right into the eye of the abyss.
We think that any of these factors are a good enough reason to have an immense fear, so if you think you have thalassophobia, don’t worry — it’s completely okay to experience it. In fact, up to 12,5% of the population experience a specific phobia every year!
A Howling Abyss
Deep Water Swell
An Entire Street Submerged In The Deep
Underwater Path. Magical Zakynthos Caves, Greece
Because All My Friends Say This Photo Of Me Freediving Gives Them The Willies
Start adding dark shapes in the backgrounds when you show them pictures. Items like Thomas the trains face, rubber duck, sushi rolls Cthulhu are common items that you could sneak in
Could That Be The Megalodon's Den?
Taken From A Fishing Boat In Antartica
The Image That Started It All
Jacob's Well In Texas
An Abandoned, Flooded Mineshaft
Guadalupe Island, The Most Terrifying Place On This Planet
There’s Something Particularly Terrifying About The Idea Of Water You Can’t Even Float In
They put these signs on the aeration tanks at water purification plants. While there have been a few people who have fallen in and drowned, whether or not aeration would cause a human not to float hadn't really been tested until more recently. It turns out humans can float in an aeration tank, and it's now thought that those who drowned died of other complications. They still keep the signs up, though, since the tanks are still dangerous in general, and also because they're full of icky water that no one should really want to be in.
The Bottom Of An Iceberg
Whirlpools Are Actually Terrifying, You Guys
Swimming Next To A Ship In The Open Ocean, Miles From Land
That dude in the middle- is he drowning? Is he calling out for help? Is he waving to the camera? Is he voguing?
A Diver Riding A Giant Underwater Worm (Pyrosoma Atlanticum)
Brine Pools Are Just The Scariest Shit
Apparently This Is The Sunken Goddess Sculpture- That’s All I Know But Look At How Big It Is!
Walked About 30 Minutes Out During Low Tide To Read This!
This Is An Under-Ice Observation Tube In Mcmurdo Station, Antarctica
Depth: Infinite Ft
Kids, who’s ready to go on the bottomless pit water slide? It feels like it never ends!
This Grounded Ship Looking Like A Giant Meg
Anybody Who Wants To Take A Dip?
Row Row Row Your Boat
That Last Point Made Me Double Take
Fresh Water Always Creeped Me Out More Than The Ocean. The General Low Visibility And Feeling "Enclosed" With Whatever Was In The Water Was Always Gnawing At The Back Of My Mind.
Hah the myth about that particular dolphin. They are shapshifting tricksters that will try to drown you and turn you into a dolphin and then morph into you and take your place in your family.
This Would Scare Me Tf Out
Flip (Floating Instrument Platform), A Ship Flipping Vertically To Study The Behavior Of Sound Waves Underwater
Going Through Old Pics, Thought I Would Drop This Here
Just a friendly shark debating if they are worth a selfie. (Upper right look for dark shape)
Black Lined Pools Are A Thing… And They’re Terrifying
It's A Nice Peaceful Day Until You Get A Glimpse Of What Lies Beneath
Found This Gem On Tumblr
Could You Live Like This?
Digital Painting By My Son Illustrating Thalassophobia
This Window In A Local Library That Goes Into A Creek
A Warning Sign For Scuba Divers Deep Underwater
Holy Sh I Didn't Know That'd Trigger Me
When You Can’t Find It But It’s Right Under The Boat
Within The Waves
Thought You Guys Might Like/Hate This Picture I Captured On My Drone
That Is A Boat
Would You Retrieve The Broom?
Don't jump in to get it you may end up in the secret dimension behind the Simpson's cupboard.
Who Knows What's Down There...
Suddenly, Out Of The Shadows
Literally A River, Under The Sea. Feeling Like Doubling Down On Your Thalassophobia?
The Depths Of A Yellowstone Hot Spring
I Can't Stop Thinking About Whether It's Deeper Than The Height Of The Cave Walls
I wonder how sound behaves in there. I imagine the reverberations off the walls and water create perfect acoustical balance. Or at least I’d like to think so.
Gliese 1214 B Is A Planet Located 48 Light Years Away From The Sun. It Is Believed To Be 100% Ocean, Giving It The Nickname “The Waterworld”
Buoy Blues, By Me
A Quick Guide On What Thalassophobia Actually Is, By Me
Two Tiny Boats Floating Over An Underwater Cliff
Naval Mine Found In Diving Trip
There are so many bombs that are missing! It is concerning, i am not even surprised.
This 200ft Deep Cenote I Swam In In Mexico
In The Dark Of The Ocean
Lighthouse In Portugal. This Is The Time Of The Year That The Waves Are Massive. Not On My Bucket List!!!
You’re Off The Edge Of The Map Mate… Here There Be Monsters
Thalassophobia Can Be Lifesaving!
This Photo From Time's Top 100 Photos Of 2021
Beneath The Lily Pads
I Absolutely Hate This
A Photo Of A Diver Exploring The Underside Of An Iceberg In Antarctica By Jill Heinerth. Apparently, They Went Inside A Cave In This Giant Iceberg. I Couldn't Imagine "Cave" Diving Inside An Iceberg That Floats In Nearly Black Water
Well From 7000 Bc Preserved By Rising Sea Levels, At Atlit-Yam, Cyprus
My Brother Sent Me This Picture Of Him At Work
Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse, Falmouth, Massachusetts
My Wife Easing My Mil Closer To The Water After She Saw The Ocean For The First Time In 10 Years And It Made Her Feel “Dizzy”
A Popular Tourist Destination: Long Island, Bahamas Sinkhole.
Who Knows Why People Do These Things
Surfing In Thick Fog
Where I Live There Is A Lake Created By A Meteor Which Is 115 Meters Deep. This Is A Photo Our Free Press Released Of It. Not A Fan
Not Sure How Deep This Goes, But This Is Terrifying
Nice And Calm Until You See The Murky Depths
Here's A Picture Of Me Sitting On A Tree Branch 120ft Deep In A Sinkhole
I'm Surprised This Wasn't Posted Here Yet, Have Fun S**tting Yourself
It's So Weird Knowing The Hoover Dam Is This Deep. The White Line Is Where The Water Usually Is
I Don’t Want To Know Where Those Holes Lead To
I think those are windows. Some hotels have bars/ reception areas under their pool.
I Still Don't Understand Why I Find This Image Terrifying
What Do You Think About Eating At This Restaurant In Norway?
Seeing The Glacier Underwater Scares The S**t Out Of Me
Now you understand the idiom ‘that’s just the tip of the iceberg’, at least!
Asked An A. I. To Interpret Thalassophobia
An Average 1,700 Containers Are Lost Overboard Every Year. Most Of Them Don't Sink, But Instead Hide Just Below The Surface, Held Up By Trapped Pockets Of Air. Without Radar, There's Nothing You Can Do If You're Going To Hit One At Night Except Pray It Doesn't Sink You.
It seems bizarre that millions of people have smartphones, electric vehicles etc that track yet no one has developed a way to trace lost containers to the ship that transported them. Furthermore find a way to routinely retrieve them. It’s not rocket science. Clearly cost and laziness outweigh interest in protecting the environment. It’s inexcusable.
Figurehead Of 500-Year-Old Wreck Is A Sea Monster Swallowing A Screaming Man
Ladder To Lower Cave System, Cascade Caverns
Hey Frank..did You Hear A Cracking Sound?
Imagine You’re All Alone In The Fog, Get Stuck Fast And Hear The Siren
I Finally Found This Particular Image. Something About Pools Gets Me Too
Serbian Combat Diver
Hit An Eerie Patch Of Calm About 20 Miles From The Mainland. Just Flat And Deep In All Directions
Bahahha *loses Consciousness*
This Is Me In Gavdos, Greece On The Southernmost Point Of Europe. Across The See Is Libya And Nothing Else Between
This Picture I Took From Below The Diving Pier In A Lake Looks Very Eerie
"That Is Not Dead Which Can Eternal Lie" - Ussr, Circa 1970s. A Large Monument Of Lenin, Sunk In The Black Sea After The Dissolution Of The Soviet Union
Dean’s Blue Hole
An Abandoned Observation Tower At Coral Island, Nassau, Bahamas
I Don't Know If Ocean Whirlpools Are Fictional, But Damn
Uss Olympia... This Photo Makes Me Really Uncomfortable
Props to the person taking the picture. Now get your butts back inside before the storm hits.
Last Freedive Trip - Does This Give Anyone The Chills?
A Scuba Diver Proceeding Into An Underwater Cave
I Was Having So Much Fun I Forgot How Far From Our Airbnb Island I Wandered
Cool Image Of Just How Big Boats Are!
Cruise Ship Mts Oceanos Sinks Off The Coast Of South Africa, 4 August 1991
The Arch Of The Blue Hole In Egypt Which Has Claimed The Lives Of An Estimated 130 People From 1997-2012
Have A Seat, Stay Awhile
This Buoy Bobs On 20 Feet/6m Swells In The Bering Sea Waters Of Alaska - Photo By Corey Arnold
I lived across the street from the Turnagain Arm in Alaska. The waves that I would see would cause the tsumani warning to go off.
Into The Mist
This Photo I Took After The Recent Floods In Australia
Who Wants To Drive It Like This
80.5000 S, 94.0000 W By Alex Konstad
These Steps From A Boardwalk Into The Atlantic Ocean
Creaks Are The Cries Of A Vessel Claimed By The Sea
This Massive Capsizing Ship (Mv Princess) Is Easily Obscured Under What Is Barely The Very Surface Of The Ocean Depths
ammunition ship. Look it up. MASSIVE. star trek enterprise size 🤣 (anyone know what you call the fear of space now . . ?)
An A. I. Generated Image Using The Keyword Thalassophobia
The Stairs To My Nightmares
“Oil Rocks” (“The Soviet Atlantis”) Is An Industrial Settlement Consisting Of Platforms Built On The Caspian Sea, 40 Km From The Nearest Coast Of Azerbaijan. The City Is Home To 2000 People Today
Automatically Made Me Think Of The Ningen
Just Trying To Trigger Myself In Photoshop
I found these pictures mostly beautiful and calming. Water is my element.
If you can't touch the bottom it doesn't matter how deep the water is. Never understood why someone thinks swimming in a 100' deep water hole is more frightening then swimming in an 8' deep hole. Granted there's more likely to be a mega monster in the 100' foot but that's usually not what people claim to be afraid of. So many just say nope it's too deep... can't see the bottom... I guess it's all perspective.
I definitely have this phobia, and for me it isn’t depth it is absolutely “can’t see the bottom” which means “I can’t see what might be below me”. I have been scuba diving in very deep but very clear ocean water and it was fine. I have done swims across a small freshwater lake where I KNOW the biggest creature is no threat to me, and my brain staring into the infinity below me starts hallucinating giants just out of sight below me. I think it is that humans aren’t used to having “from below” as a direction of potential threat. Add in that anything down there would be completely silent as it approached and my brain just starts sweating in my skull. So much nope.
Load More Replies...
As I learned recently, and this list just proved, I am a massive thalassophobe.
Me too. Love walking the beach, but don't like being over or in deep water.
Load More Replies...
Somebody explain this, please. A “phobia” is an IRRATIONAL fear of something. How is Thalassophobia even a thing? Why would any land-dwelling creature NOT have a proper heightened awareness of a deep water situation and not stay on guard against a potential mishap? What am I missing in all this?
Because people suffering from this can have reactions from mild uncomfortable to peeing themselves with fear. Ever went swimming? Ever noticed that some people NEVER go swimming?
Load More Replies...
There are irrational fears and common sense. The ocean isn't a swimming pool, it can be very dangerous. Tourists come to Cape Cod and swim straight out into the ocean. Not in a Protected Area where the life guards are, but in a random location. Most are not strong swimmers. They are not visible from shore much sooner than they realize. Cape Cod's shark population has dramatically increased, there are other large sea creatures, and unexpected currents. Locals swim stay close to shore line. They aren't afraid, they respect the strength of the ocean and the creatures who live there.
water from hurricane harvey got all the way up to my front doorstep... no water in the house... the houses on either side flooded... harvey-2-6...273f7c.jpg 
My house almost flooded, but somehow the water went back down before it got inside.
Load More Replies...
I might have that thassalaphobia thing now. I never thought i did but now i got some palps.
I’m terrified of deep water, especially when I can’t see far in it, but I’m also a terrible swimmer, so I don’t think fear is so out of place! I grew up around a swimming pool, and could never get the hang of treading water or floating on my back, so if I’m stuck in the water I have to actively swim to keep afloat. That keeps me out of anything other than a swimming pool.
I tried to go through this article so many times, but my brain just said "Nope". Never made it past #15.
The biggest thing for me is the fact that, in the water. We are essentially at the lower tier of the food chain. Real low.
The ocean pics were scary, but what scared me more were those black tile pools. WHY do that to a pool? It just makes something that was inviting into something scary. I dunno, maybe it's just me.
Lovely and fascinating. Deadly and frightening. All of the emotions. The guts of some people who explore the deep are to be applauded! Mars was overcome by the ocean zillions of years ago through their climate change and then the salt evaporated leaving a toxic situation that humans could never breathe. Maybe we should continue to explore our own planet before wasting millions on one that is just a shot of how we are to end up?
Dark blue water is kinda frightening. Murky muddy water as well. Fear of anything being able to approach you because you're in the water. Doesn't help when I'm barely able to float and slow.
This post made me extremely anxious and terrified. I regret this scrolling session.
WHY did I do this to myself?? WHY did I look at all, and, more importantly, WHY did my dumb àss look right before bedtime??? God, please don't let me have nightmares!!!
Dear BP, Could you please put titles on each of your pictures to explain where they were taken?
Hanauma Bay Hawaii. Very large shallow coral bay covered in sand. Beautiful, lots of sea life. If you walk around the bay to the ocean, it drops off. I don't know how deep, but it is pretty startling. Can't find pics of the drop off.
These just make me want to go diving this weekend, am probably going any way, now I just wanna go more.
When i got to the bottom of this I realized I was holding my breath. That was stressful!
I'm a coastal girl, it's not the ocean or deep water I fear. Things lurk below, I get it, the unknown doesn't bother me. I hate is being trapped. The images of people under icebergs?! NO THANK YOU!
I grew up swimming in an abandoned Quarry, they hit water and flooded. You could still see the old machinery as you swim to the other side of the lake, it was very eerie but also very cool. You also had to walk through and abandoned mini town to get there, there was an old gas station, and the rest was swallowed by nature.
For me it starts with my smallness in the vastness, then you add the not being able to see the bottom...and all the creatures...I used to scubadive 30+ years ago...jumped out of perfectly good airplanes, climbed Mt Fuji several times, rappelled off cliffs on Cheju'do...too...I am still trying to figure out why
First time I read the comments in between the pictures. Interesting facts.
Yeah, it’s a shame. Some of them are Photoshopped into oblivion like the one with the skull appearing in the ocean waves and yet some people still believe the images are real and get even more scared of the ocean.
Load More Replies...
Go to the end of the thread, where it says "Note: this post originally had 142 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.", and click on the number '142'. This will bring you to the original, extended post. The additional photos that didn't make the cut start at item number 51. Enjoy!
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I can sort of understand where the fear comes from, maybe it's fear of being attacked by some sea creature, maybe it's just that being in deep water can make you feel incredibly small. Personally, the feeling of being a tiny piece of a very large world is humbling in profoundly beautiful way. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with surfing.
Homestead Crater, Midway UT -- warm water cave diving at its best. Warm, nothing gonna bite you, benches set into the water like a hot tub for those who don't dive. Peaceful and beautiful.
I must confess, none of these would bother me, with the possible exception of the waves with the seaweed. When I did a Swimtrek tour a few years ago, I found myself swimming over scuba divers at one point who were at least 10 metres below me. I almost waved at them before I realized that they wouldn't see it. I love the water despite falling into a creek that was over my head at age 4 or 5. Or maybe because of that?
I found these pictures mostly beautiful and calming. Water is my element.
If you can't touch the bottom it doesn't matter how deep the water is. Never understood why someone thinks swimming in a 100' deep water hole is more frightening then swimming in an 8' deep hole. Granted there's more likely to be a mega monster in the 100' foot but that's usually not what people claim to be afraid of. So many just say nope it's too deep... can't see the bottom... I guess it's all perspective.
I definitely have this phobia, and for me it isn’t depth it is absolutely “can’t see the bottom” which means “I can’t see what might be below me”. I have been scuba diving in very deep but very clear ocean water and it was fine. I have done swims across a small freshwater lake where I KNOW the biggest creature is no threat to me, and my brain staring into the infinity below me starts hallucinating giants just out of sight below me. I think it is that humans aren’t used to having “from below” as a direction of potential threat. Add in that anything down there would be completely silent as it approached and my brain just starts sweating in my skull. So much nope.
Load More Replies... As I learned recently, and this list just proved, I am a massive thalassophobe.
Me too. Love walking the beach, but don't like being over or in deep water.
Load More Replies... Somebody explain this, please. A “phobia” is an IRRATIONAL fear of something. How is Thalassophobia even a thing? Why would any land-dwelling creature NOT have a proper heightened awareness of a deep water situation and not stay on guard against a potential mishap? What am I missing in all this?
Because people suffering from this can have reactions from mild uncomfortable to peeing themselves with fear. Ever went swimming? Ever noticed that some people NEVER go swimming?
Load More Replies... There are irrational fears and common sense. The ocean isn't a swimming pool, it can be very dangerous. Tourists come to Cape Cod and swim straight out into the ocean. Not in a Protected Area where the life guards are, but in a random location. Most are not strong swimmers. They are not visible from shore much sooner than they realize. Cape Cod's shark population has dramatically increased, there are other large sea creatures, and unexpected currents. Locals swim stay close to shore line. They aren't afraid, they respect the strength of the ocean and the creatures who live there.
water from hurricane harvey got all the way up to my front doorstep... no water in the house... the houses on either side flooded... harvey-2-6...273f7c.jpg
My house almost flooded, but somehow the water went back down before it got inside.
Load More Replies... I might have that thassalaphobia thing now. I never thought i did but now i got some palps.
I’m terrified of deep water, especially when I can’t see far in it, but I’m also a terrible swimmer, so I don’t think fear is so out of place! I grew up around a swimming pool, and could never get the hang of treading water or floating on my back, so if I’m stuck in the water I have to actively swim to keep afloat. That keeps me out of anything other than a swimming pool.
I tried to go through this article so many times, but my brain just said "Nope". Never made it past #15.
The biggest thing for me is the fact that, in the water. We are essentially at the lower tier of the food chain. Real low.
The ocean pics were scary, but what scared me more were those black tile pools. WHY do that to a pool? It just makes something that was inviting into something scary. I dunno, maybe it's just me.
Lovely and fascinating. Deadly and frightening. All of the emotions. The guts of some people who explore the deep are to be applauded! Mars was overcome by the ocean zillions of years ago through their climate change and then the salt evaporated leaving a toxic situation that humans could never breathe. Maybe we should continue to explore our own planet before wasting millions on one that is just a shot of how we are to end up?
Dark blue water is kinda frightening. Murky muddy water as well. Fear of anything being able to approach you because you're in the water. Doesn't help when I'm barely able to float and slow.
This post made me extremely anxious and terrified. I regret this scrolling session.
WHY did I do this to myself?? WHY did I look at all, and, more importantly, WHY did my dumb àss look right before bedtime??? God, please don't let me have nightmares!!!
Dear BP, Could you please put titles on each of your pictures to explain where they were taken?
Hanauma Bay Hawaii. Very large shallow coral bay covered in sand. Beautiful, lots of sea life. If you walk around the bay to the ocean, it drops off. I don't know how deep, but it is pretty startling. Can't find pics of the drop off.
These just make me want to go diving this weekend, am probably going any way, now I just wanna go more.
When i got to the bottom of this I realized I was holding my breath. That was stressful!
I'm a coastal girl, it's not the ocean or deep water I fear. Things lurk below, I get it, the unknown doesn't bother me. I hate is being trapped. The images of people under icebergs?! NO THANK YOU!
I grew up swimming in an abandoned Quarry, they hit water and flooded. You could still see the old machinery as you swim to the other side of the lake, it was very eerie but also very cool. You also had to walk through and abandoned mini town to get there, there was an old gas station, and the rest was swallowed by nature.
For me it starts with my smallness in the vastness, then you add the not being able to see the bottom...and all the creatures...I used to scubadive 30+ years ago...jumped out of perfectly good airplanes, climbed Mt Fuji several times, rappelled off cliffs on Cheju'do...too...I am still trying to figure out why
First time I read the comments in between the pictures. Interesting facts.
Yeah, it’s a shame. Some of them are Photoshopped into oblivion like the one with the skull appearing in the ocean waves and yet some people still believe the images are real and get even more scared of the ocean.
Load More Replies... Go to the end of the thread, where it says "Note: this post originally had 142 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.", and click on the number '142'. This will bring you to the original, extended post. The additional photos that didn't make the cut start at item number 51. Enjoy!
Load More Replies... I can sort of understand where the fear comes from, maybe it's fear of being attacked by some sea creature, maybe it's just that being in deep water can make you feel incredibly small. Personally, the feeling of being a tiny piece of a very large world is humbling in profoundly beautiful way. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with surfing.
Homestead Crater, Midway UT -- warm water cave diving at its best. Warm, nothing gonna bite you, benches set into the water like a hot tub for those who don't dive. Peaceful and beautiful.
I must confess, none of these would bother me, with the possible exception of the waves with the seaweed. When I did a Swimtrek tour a few years ago, I found myself swimming over scuba divers at one point who were at least 10 metres below me. I almost waved at them before I realized that they wouldn't see it. I love the water despite falling into a creek that was over my head at age 4 or 5. Or maybe because of that?
