Have you heard of the phobia called Thalassophobia? It’s a fear of the sea and you may not think you have it, but you after you see these photos, you’ll KNOW you definitely have it.
When I was young, our summers often involved trips to California where we would visit Sea World and Disneyland, and it inevitably involved an entire day spent at the beach. We would pack beach chairs and umbrellas that we would have to tote through the burning hot sand where my parents would excuse us to go play.
My older brother and I would quickly run into the ocean and swim out into the depths where the waves would start to break (right where the surfers would wait to catch waves). We would play for hours and hours diving under the capsizing waves and letting the water flip us around in the sea.
Only making our way to the beach so we could walk back to where my parents were because the tide would pull us far down the beach without us even realizing what was happening. As a kid, I never thought twice about what could be lurking in the water just below our feet.
It frightens me just thinking about what might have been swimming near us without our noticing. The ocean is a vast, scary world that we know very little about. And it’s so dark and murky that something could be within feet of you and you wouldn’t even notice.
1. Shark Teeth Just Under the Surface
If this was the one and only picture in this post, it would be enough to make me question why anyone would get in the water! I watched a documentary once where they tagged a white shark and it went within yards of swimmers at the beach several times. Super scary to think this could be near you and you wouldn’t even know until it’s too late!
Also, if you are into interesting stories like this one, read about mysterious monoliths around the world.
2. Huge Whale Under a Small Boat
Just knowing the sheer size of animals in the ocean is enough to creep any sane person out! And they blend right into the water around them!
3. Giant Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
I’m afraid of small jelly fish! Can you imagine how terrifying it would be to run into a giant Lion’s Mane Jellyfish?
4. Dark Ocean Abyss
They say that space is the last frontier, but I beg to differ. The ocean is so immensely deep and mostly unexplored. They are discovering new species all the time! I really don’t want to know what monsters are yet to be discovered in the dark abyss!
5. Huge Shark Following a Kayak
I would literally be peeing my pants (or swimsuit) if I saw this tailing me! That shark is twice the size of the kayak and could easily knock it over! I’ll stick with kayaking in lakes, thank you very much!
6. Scary Sea Creatures
I’m not exactly sure what this is. It looks like a combination of a potato bug and slug. Whatever it is, I really don’t want to encounter one in the water!
7. Another Ocean Abyss
Am I the only one who is worried about this swimmer going over a deep dark drop-off in the ocean floor?! Who knows what’s down there waiting to devour an unsuspecting victim!
8. Large Manta Ray
Yeah, sure the giant stingray looks like it’s smiling, and the swimmer is doing her zen-thing, but that thing may be smiling because it found an easy snack!
9. Ocean Seaweed as a Scene From a Horror Movie
I know seaweed isn’t as scary as a shark, but have you ever had something brush up against you that makes you jump out of your own skin? That’s the sensation I get just seeing these swaying in the waves!
10. Incredible Goblin Shark
This Goblin Shark is the stuff of nightmares! And it doesn’t even matter that they live in the deepest parts of the ocean. The fact that they exist at all is reason enough to stay out of the water!
11. Abandoned Ship
I’m sure people would get a kick out of exploring abandoned ships in the ocean, but those vessels give me an eery feeling. I would be worried the propeller would magically turn on and chop me up if I was that diver, even though my brain tells me that it can’t happen.
12. A Squid From a Nightmare
Even scarier than sharks is the giant squid! Have you seen how aggressive squid can be? And they travel in swarms that can tear you apart!
13. Underwater Waterfall
This aerial view of an island with clear water shows how vast the landscape is under the water. No one ever picture that there are mountains and valleys, cliffs and waterfalls below the surface of the ocean. It is beautiful but in a scary kind of way!
14. Scary Angler Fish
An Angler Fish is definitely a rival for the Goblin Shark in the freaky fish contest! Those needle-like teeth are something I NEVER want to encounter in my life! If I ever see something bright and shiny, flicking around the dark ocean, you can bet I will swim in the opposite direction!
15. And Another Ocean Abyss!
Another example of how the ocean can just have the floor drop off from right beneath you! I would be so scared a huge eel is hiding in that hole ready to snap up the diver!
16. Diving With a Whale
Even though whales aren’t intimidating in theory, I guarantee they are in person. They are ginormous! And could easily kill you without even trying. You could be swatted like a fly by this massive creature!
17. It’s a “Sharkwave”!
If I was this surfer, I would be saying “Hell No!” and beat feet back to shore, where I would NEVER get in the water again! I wonder if he is too close to see it though. It puts the dangers you face when in the water into a new perspective!
18. Crabs Are Much Scarier At the Bottom of the Sea
The only way I like crab is served steamed in a bucket! I would cry if I ran into one on the beach or in the water!
19. School of Rays
Stingrays as far as the eye can see. I would love to see this, from the side of a boat. But even then, I would be terrified I might fall in and find myself surrounded by these creatures!
20. Diving Under Hammerhead Sharks
Could you imagine scuba-diving just to find yourself surrounded by a school of hammerhead sharks?! I hope sharks can’t sense fear because I would be a goner in this situation!
21. Scary Fish Just Below the Surface
A massive, shadowy creature hovers just beneath the glassy surface of the water, its monstrous face faintly visible through the rippling veil. Its eyes peer up with an eerie calm, while the hint of a toothy grin curls beneath the distorted surface.
Final Thoughts
I think marine life is absolutely beautiful! I love the ocean and I love the beauty of sharks, fish, etc., but I would prefer to appreciate them from the safety of land, or in the very least, from the deck of a boat.
Knowing there are monsters in the ocean make me appreciate aquariums all the more! Aquariums allow me to see what is lurking in the sea with the comfort of knowing they are behind thick glass! I’m pretty sure I will never go swimming in the ocean again and you can be sure that I won’t ever let my children go off on our own like my parents let me as a child!