CuriositiesDEC 21, 2022

50 Frightening Pics That Make Us Want To Stay As Far Away From The Ocean As Possible (New Pics)

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You probably know that humans have only explored about 5% of the world’s oceans. But did you know that the number of viruses in the ocean outnumbers the amount of stars in the Milky Way? Or how about the fact that the deepest part of the ocean stretches down about 36,200 feet? How much do you know about hydrothermal vents? As it turns out, these deep sea vents can reach temperatures of up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. But don’t worry, if you ever made it that far down, you’d likely be crushed by the water pressure before you were melted.

Are these facts starting to make you sweat? If so, you just might have thalassophobia, or the intense fear of large bodies of water. While many of us love a trip to the beach or going swimming in a warm lake in the summer, these places serve as other people’s worst nightmares. And if you’re certain that you’re purely a land creature, you might want to avoid this list. But if you’re interested in exploring the depths of the ocean and the insane amounts of power that water has, you’re in for a real treat.

We’ve gathered some of our favorite posts from the Thalassophobia subreddit down below to captivate, and possibly terrify, you pandas. Be sure to upvote the pics that you find most fascinating (or unsettling), and let us know in the comments how you feel about vast bodies of water. Then, if you can handle even more of these scary photos, you can check out Bored Panda’s last article on thalassophobia right here! Now, cue the Jaws theme song!

#21 Braving The Wild Blue

Small sailboat struggling in rough ocean waves under a dramatic cloudy sky, evoking frightening ocean scenes.

grasshoppa80

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201points

Are stingrays another sea creature that makes you uneasy? Rest assured, their stings are rarely fatal. Shiffman explained to Parade that stingrays are not even capable of stinging us unless we step on them, so if you’re in an area that’s known to house them, try walking using the “stingray shuffle”. Basically, this just means to drag your feet across the sea floor rather than picking up your feet with every step. This way, you’re much more likely to just scare them away than to accidentally end up with a sting.

#22 Rainy Day Bliss

Person floating in dark ocean water during heavy rainstorm, evoking fear of the ocean and dangerous conditions.

TheAthleticDiabetic

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199points

#23 Arrow to Somewhere

Aerial view of a long bridge stretching over the ocean, evoking frightening ocean scenes and isolation fears.

imax_707

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198points

#24 Mystery Beneath the Surface

Sunken shipwreck visible underwater near rocky shore in a clear ocean, evoking frightening ocean images to avoid.

butterfly1202

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193points

If fear of drowning is what triggers your thalassophobia the most, understand that it is a reasonable fear to have, but there are also plenty of precautions that can be taken to ensure your safety in water. First, it’s important to have protection. Wear a life jacket, and make sure you have friends or family members nearby in case anything goes wrong. Learn basic swimming skills, and don’t take risks by venturing out into deep or unpredictable water. And always be prepared for an emergency. Learn CPR, and swim somewhere that has a lifeguard on duty. By taking a few extra steps and safety precautions, you can have a great time enjoying the ocean. (And if you’re really too nervous, feel free to stay on the sand building castles and searching for seashells!)

#25 Tracks to Nowhere

Abandoned railway tracks leading into the ocean under a gloomy sky in a frightening ocean scene.

ItsACellarDoor

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#26 Clear Water, Dark Night

Night view of a rocky ocean shore with a metal dock extending over eerie shallow water in a frightening ocean scene.

rollobones

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180points

#27 Deep Thoughts Only

Diver sitting on the edge of a deep underwater cliff in the ocean, highlighting frightening ocean depths.

ginger-loving-asian

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177points

I hope this article has not given you a new phobia to discuss with your therapist this week. The ocean is an incredible place, and while we may know little about it, we do know that plenty of people (myself included!) have made countless, wonderful memories by visiting it. It’s good to be cautious, but don’t let fear keep you from enjoying your life. Keep upvoting the photos that you find particularly haunting or captivating, and let us know in the comments whether or not you have thalassophobia. Then, if you’d like to dive even deeper into the world of being frightened by huge bodies of water, you can find our last article on the same topic right here!