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
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
Storm Coming Soon
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
That Drop Off Though
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 . . ?)
This Would Be Seen From The Diver's Pov
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
Cave Divers In An Underwater Cave Near The Yucatan Peninsula By Daniel Riordan-Araujo
Automatically Made Me Think Of The Ningen
I Took A Photo Of The Caribbean Sea
Me Drifting In The Sea While A Storm Is Approaching Quickly
This Image Posted By Reef On Instagram
Just Trying To Trigger Myself In Photoshop
Lights 'Cross Open Sea
Taiwanese Athletes In Aida Diving Competition
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...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.
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