64 Unnerving Photos Of Submerged Objects That Show Why Some People Fear What’s Underwater (New Pics)

Submechanophobia is the fear of fully or partially submerged man-made objects, and it might just finally explain my childhood terror of that creepy-crawly thing. You know, the thing that keeps the bottom of the pool clean? It’s a little more oddly specific than thalassophobia, the fear of the sea or vast bodies of water, but it’s no less unnerving.

Because, really, with all that humankind has built, explored, discarded, or lost to the tides, who knows how much of our handiwork now lies underwater? The ocean alone supports an enormous amount of human activity. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it provides food security for over three billion people, carries more than 80% of global goods, and hosts cables carrying 98% of international internet traffic.

Add climate change and rising sea levels, which threaten to swallow up more of the places we’ve built on dry land, and… well, if you have submechanophobia and the photos haven’t made you nope out just yet, you’re probably quietly freaking out right about now.

Writing for Verywell Mind, Lisa Fritscher explains that submechanophobia can stem from several different fears, including fear of the unknown. As she points out, that instinct to be wary of what we can’t fully see or know has probably served us pretty well as a species. After all, bodies of water can conceal all sorts of hazards that are difficult to spot, from submerged rocks and logs to dangerous currents that can sweep us into much deeper trouble than we ever intended. Being cautious about what might be lurking beneath the surface isn’t exactly irrational.

But Fritscher also notes that familiarity with a particular body of water can reduce the perceived risks. So perhaps that explains why I eventually made peace with the pool’s aptly named creepy-crawly.

Moving from creepy-crawlies to actual creatures, next on Fritscher’s list is fear of animals. We’ve all seen Jaws. We know what might be swimming below, from eels and rays to the occasional larger predator, and sunken objects often make perfect hiding spots. Fritscher points out that even non-predatory animals may attack if they feel threatened, although attacks on humans are rare. Still, for some of us, even a brush with a fish (or a slimy piece of seaweed) is enough to elicit a shriek.

Then there’s the fear of ships. Fritscher explains that this can range from discomfort around boats to an intense fear of enormous vessels, with submarines being a particular trigger for some people. And it’s not hard to see why. Just imagine being sealed inside a craft, miles below the surface, with nothing but darkness and water pressing in from all sides. And we’ve seen how tragically that can end.

While all this makes bodies of water sound downright terrifying, there’s an undercurrent to these fears: water can be as calming as it is unsettling. As Tamara Davison writes for The Guardian, “The ocean has long framed restorative practices for better health around the world, from Victorian-era doctors prescribing ‘sea cures’ for patients to the modern-day trend of cold-water swimming.”

Marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols helped bring renewed attention to water’s restorative power with his 2014 book Blue Mind, which explores the psychological benefits of being in, on, or near water. Since then, the idea that “blue spaces” (oceans, lakes, rivers, and even fountains) can benefit our well-being has increasingly found its way into therapeutic practices.

As Kate Campbell, a health psychology researcher, told the BBC, “Blue spaces provide us with distractions that take our mind away from the day-to-day hassles of life.” But experts from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) say it goes deeper than that. According to their findings, spending time in blue spaces is linked to better mental and general health, including lower stress and anxiety, and a reduced risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and lower mortality.

Still, while some might find peace by the water, others would rather not think about what might be lurking in the depths. Continue scrolling through (if you dare) and upvote the posts you found most terrifying, but remember, these are just a drop in the ocean. Yikes.