50 Unexpected Ocean Moments That Might Freak You Out

While there is nothing wrong with having fears, thalassophobia has had a negative effect on human exploration. A 2021 article published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science discussed how the fear of the ocean and bodies of water has resulted in a lack of interest in deep-sea science. 

“It is not surprising that funding for astronomy and space research far surpasses funding for deep-sea exploration when the great heights are celestial or spiritual, nor is it surprising that much of the language used to describe the deep sea exaggerates the chthonic (relating to or inhabiting the underworld),” the study authors wrote.

So, what exactly are people afraid of? Sharks and getting attacked by one would be the easy answer, but according to a survey by the University of South Australia, this isn’t the case. 

Apparently, people are more scared of stingrays, crabs, and jellyfish. The fear of drowning also surpasses the fear of a potential shark encounter. For context, around 300,000 people lose their lives from drowning each year worldwide. For shark attacks? A mere seven.

Despite the meager numbers of annual shark attack fatalities, they’ve struck fear in people. According to a poll by global market research company Ipsos, 51% of Americans are “absolutely terrified” of them, while 38% won’t swim in the ocean out of such fear. 

Experts believe that humans aren’t innately scared of sharks. According to psychologist Gabriella Hancock, media and Hollywood portrayals of the ocean’s apex predator are to blame. 

"What we find is that especially with popular media, it influences people's attitudes and perceptions such that it exaggerates the danger these animals pose," she told CBS in a 2022 interview.

All the bad rap aside, sharks play a key role in keeping the marine ecosystem balanced. As environmental social scientist Dr. Brianna Le Busque explains, these animals have kept ocean habitats intact for the last 400 million years. 

However, negative press makes people less likely to support shark conservation efforts, particularly those of species at risk of extinction. This is a cause for concern for Dr. Le Busque, who urges the reframing of how humans view sharks. 

“We need to reduce the perception of risk sharks pose to better reflect reality,” she stated. Most shark species are not known to harm humans."

We’d like to flip the conversation over to you, our readers. Do you fear the ocean and everything that lies within it? If so, what scares you the most? Let us know in the comments!