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50 Frightening Pics That Make Us Want To Stay As Far Away From The Ocean As Possible (New Pics)
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!
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#1
Deep Water Swell
Dante McBride 11 months ago
Someone’s been watching the cat threads lately!
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Mari Mar Pinta 1 year ago
Doesn't help that I'm seeing this after waking up at 4am from a nightmare... of course I click on it...
Autumn Artemis 1 year ago
I will never understand why we do these things to ourselves
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Edda Kamphues 1 year ago
There is a very good reason why I never, ever swim in the ocean. It's pictured above, plus all the funky stuff that nibbles at your feet.
Dasha 1 year ago
And the fact that I cannot swim very well. I never go out of my depth in the sea because I scared might eat me
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Jennifer Checki 1 year ago
It’s beautiful in a photo. From a boat, not so much.
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StrangeOne 1 year ago
This is scary because it's deep and it's inevitable you'll be submerged into the abyssal darkness, not knowing what is in there and you just know the ocean floor is far below.
Disinforminationalisticalities 1 year ago
I felt that way too. I could tell it was a big wave, but the pic is dark and lacking in detail and frame of reference.
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Mickie Shea 1 year ago
Yes those swells are scary, dangerous and you really want to be elsewhere.
Shawn Barry 1 year ago
Where was this taken? Open pacific rogue wave? Box canyon pointed at shore tidal wave?
Loading... 1 year ago
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!
random child on the internet 1 year ago
I would be running as fast as possible in the other direction… not taking pics-
Lunamorte Louise 1 year ago
Oh wow! This is neat. I used about these waves. It is interesting that they are real, not just nightmares.
Lisa McComb 1 year ago
I hope the photographer is using a zoom lens, because I think otherwise it's too late to start running. Yikes.
Sonya Regan 1 year ago
I love your stupidnthread with thr edit fumb b***h i have a sweat revenge its yours for the takeing
Laura Perkinson 1 year ago
I cannot fathom seeing this above me. how terrifying for anyone who has and lived to tell about it
Charlotte Stackhouse 1 year ago
I live on a fifth floor of a Vonda that is practically on the ocean… 🎉🥳😀
Kellie Whyte 1 year ago
I went on a school camp when I was in year 7 here in Australia, and saw 5 people from that camp drown and die. The ocean is a very scary place.
Sonia Holloway 1 year ago
When the Ocean rise up like a parent towards a bratty disrespectful child.. Uh oh 😮😮😮
Lorenzo Carcaterra 1 year ago
When you close your eyes, even for a moment, forget where and who you are and think only about this. In a very deserted part of the world, at a moment when no one cares, a drop of water drips onto a rock with a very small noise.
Kaedyn Walsh 1 year ago
I choose to believe that someone is down to head level in the water and the wave is only like 2 feet tall because I hate that 150 foot waves exist.
Unproductive Pigeon 1 year ago
NOOOOOOOOOO! now im just loading comments so i can cover up the next pic
Steve Eaton 1 year ago
Havent known of any surfers who've 'waved' goodbye. Surfed san diego county many years 'back in the day'. Took on malibu once. Not all that exciting but i can say, " been there, done that "
#2
A Huge Wave
#3
Alex Dawson's Award-Winning Viciously Haunting Scuba Diving Photos
The Thalassophobia subreddit has been around since 2013, and it’s become an incredibly popular place since then. It currently has 1.2 million members, and it is home to countless posts featuring how frightening and amazing the world’s bodies of water can be. From photos of creatures that look like they’re from another planet to gigantic waves that could take out entire towns, this online community certainly makes it clear how one could be scared of vast bodies of water. Personally, I’ve always loved swimming in the ocean and taking a trip to a lake, but it only takes one close encounter with drowning to remind you just how powerful water is.
If you’ve never heard of thalassophobia, let’s break down exactly what it is and how it typically manifests itself. Similar to any other specific phobia, Healthline explains that thalassophobia can include symptoms such as restlessness, feeling on edge or worried, being unable to concentrate, irritability, muscle tension, sweating or looking flushed, increased heart rate, trembling, chest pain or discomfort, a feeling of impending doom, a sense of loss of control, upset stomach, chills or hot flashes, and trouble sleeping. In short, it can certainly negatively impact a person’s quality of life.
#4
When You're Swimming And Feel Seaweed Touching Your Feet..... But Actually
Sahshdiurrbrjdjdjf 1 year ago
Garden eels. Completely harmless. And as you approach them they retreat into their burrows. So they won't touch your feet.
#5
Posted On R/Damnthatsinteresting But Thought It Fit Better Here
Mari Mar Pinta 1 year ago
I've read that you only see 1/3 of an iceberg when looking at it... obviously the rest is very well hidden! What a pic!
#6
The Finnish Nature Photograph Of The Year By Antti Strang
If you start to feel like you’re experiencing any of those symptoms just by viewing the pics on this list, feel free to swim away as fast as you can. These photos can be extremely triggering. But if you want to combat your thalassophobia head on, exposure therapy is one possible form of treatment. Betterhelp recommends finding a fitting method to expose yourself to what exactly is causing your fear of bodies of water. “If your fear stems from an inability to swim in deep water, you may take a swimming class,” they explain on their site.
“If you’re worried about sea creatures, you may try visiting them at an aquarium. If you’re able to look directly at your fears, you may be surprised by how quickly you’re able to move past them.” It is best to do this with the help of a professional, so today, viewing this list on your own might be a bit too overwhelming. But if you are experiencing discomfort, anxiety or fear around topics such as this, know that you’re not alone.
#7
Standing At The Edge
#8
No Land In Sight?
#9
Freediving Near Iglesias, Italy
It’s actually quite common to have some sort of fear revolving around bodies of water. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 3% of Americans have aquaphobia, and many people have other water-related phobias including ablutophobia (fear of bathing), cymophobia (fear of waves), megalohydrothalassophobia (fear of underwater creatures or objects), submechanophobia (fear of submerged objects), and thalassophobia. These phobias often stem from past traumatic events involving water, negative stories about water, their family history or being exposed to someone else with the same fears.
#10
This Shot Was Taken Off Moalboal On The Island Of Cebu, Philippines. This Guy Was Free Diving With Just A Mask. I Was Lucky Enough To Catch Him Coming Up Through A Bait Ball. Shot With A 5dsr 8-15 Mm Lens Set At 10 Mm 200th Sec @ F8 2 Ysd1's
#11
Worlds Smallest Inhabited Island
#12
Thalassophobia And Submechanophobia Combined Into One Photo
But aside from people who have a phobia associated with water, plenty of other people are simply scared in deep water. According to Cision, 46% of American adults are afraid when in a pool where the water goes over their heads, and 64% of American adults are scared in deep, open water. This is a perfectly normal reaction; technically, there is possible danger present when we’re surrounded by water so we should be aware of it. It’s important to stay safe and avoid being alone in deep water because you never know what will happen. And if your fear comes from being unable to swim, don’t be afraid to do something about it! It’s never too late to learn how to swim and feel more confident in water. (Not to mention how much fun swimming is!)
#13
The First Underwater Photograph. At A Depth Of 195 Feet In The Mediterranean
#14
In France, "La Fosse Dionne" Is A Seemingly Bottomless Water Pit. Despite Several Attempts By Divers, Its Depth Has Been Impossible To Find. Exploring It Is Now Strictly Controlled As Multiple Deaths Have Occured
#15
Saw This Picture On Facebook From The Page Wonders Of The Planet Earth. A Shipwreck Being Reclaimed By The Sea
M. Ellen Dash, founder and CEO of Miracle Swimming for Adults in Sarasota, Florida, told Cision, “People want to know how to swim. Those who learn to swim welcome summertime. But many fail swimming lessons. Unbeknownst to most instructors, the failure is often due to panic during lessons,” she explained. “Many people consider panic a normal step of learning. However, students will only endure this emotional pain to a point, after which they quit. If they return to traditional lessons years later determined to learn, they are often met with the same system that is blind to the harm done by panic. The cycle continues."
"It's okay to be afraid in water," Dash says. "No one is afraid for a silly reason. Yet everyone needs to know how to swim. Find a program that will work for you."
#16
The Arch In The Blue Hole, Egypt Which Has Infamously Claimed Up To 200 Lives
#17
Rebreather Diving, Eastern Slovakia
#18
When You Fear Of Flying And Your Fear Of Water Meet Eachother
If the idea of getting in the ocean is just too much for you, perhaps we can assuage some of your fears. I consulted this list from Parade that explains why we have no need to hold some of the most common fears associated with the world’s oceans. For example, if you’re scared of sharks, it might be helpful to know that it’s extremely unlikely to be bitten by one. While hundreds of millions of people take a dip in the ocean every single year, only between 70-100 of them worldwide will have a bite taken out of them by a shark. “Sharks’ senses are legendary so this isn’t because sharks don’t know we’re there, it’s because we’re just not on the menu,” says marine biologist David Shiffman. Just so you know, more people are killed by vending machines than sharks.
#19
This Photo Is Anxiety Inducing For Some Reason
#20
Stairs Down To The Flooded Level Deep Inside A Mine
#21
Point Nemo, You Are Closer To Astronauts Aboard The ISS Than Humanity
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
I Figured You Would Appreciate This
#23
The Idea Of This Tunnel Caving In While You're 60 Ft Below The Surface Of The Ocean
#24
Abandoned Silver Mine Shafts. Lake Superior Thunder Bay Ontario
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
Reminds Me Of Spirited Away And Not In A Good Way
Mari Hanssen 1 year ago
We use these to slide boats into the water. If you turned 180 degrees you'd see them going into a boat house :) at least in Norway we do this
#26
I Used Night Mode On My Phone And…
BookDragon 1 year ago
Am I an idiot? It just looks like a really pretty picture to me, if not a bit chilling.
#27
I Could Never
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!
#28
Somehow This Is Also Thalassophobia And Claustrophobia. It's An Illustration
#29
Dean’s Blue Hole In Long Island, The Bahamas (Via Willtrubridge)
#30
The Drop Off
#31
Posted This On R/Submechanophobia But Thought It Would Fit Here Too. And Odd Broken Pier Support That Looks Just Like A Hand
#32
Would You Spend The Night?
#33
Made My Spine Crawl Just A Little
#34
Calm But Eerie
#35
Imagine Being Stuck There
#36
Dragon Hole In The South China Sea Is The World's Deepest Blue Hole, Plunging Down 300 M (987 Ft)
#37
Supposed To Be Relaxing But It’s Actually Terrifying
#38
Oceans Drop Of For You To Remember How Small You Are
#39
I Made Some Art To Recreate The Feeling From A Beach Dream I Had Where The Waves Were So Big They Blocked Out The Sun
#40
Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge In Louisiana
#41
The Wreck Of The Titanic. This Photo Gives Me Anxiety…
#42
The Final Moments Of The SS Andrea Doria (1956)
#43
This Creepy Dock I Was On Tonight
#44
Floating In A Ship
#45
Exploring The Mysteries Of The Ocean
#46
Sweden's New Submarine
#47
This Teaser For The New Netflix Show "1899" Gives Me Chills
#48
Ah Yes, Underwater Active Volcanos And Mutant Sharks, That’s What The Ocean Needs, It Wasn’t Scary Enough As Is
Minakshi Pharswal 1 year ago
Ocean taking extra measures to keep the humans and its garbage away
#49
Into The Darkness
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Kit Kat 1 year ago
Idk this made me feel really calm. I personally love deep water but I showed my friend some of the pics and I freaked them out.
James Peters 1 year ago
I found very little of this scary or disturbing. Much of it was beautiful and gorgeously photographed though.
Some rando dude 1 year ago
Im someone who falls between fascination and complete terror. I think it comes from a place of respect. Nature is amazing, but if it's not treated with a level of respect, you'll find yourself meeting Davy Jones.
Load More Replies...
Leo Domitrix 1 year ago
I was twice deliberately held under water to drown as a child. And now I have even more panic. Yay. (If you ask "Who'd do that?" My sister reallllly wanted to be an only child.)
Miss Frankfurter 1 year ago
OMG! I’m so sorry. Was she of an age when she would actually realize what she was doing? Either way, I hope she got help. And you too. How terrifying.
Load More Replies...
Kathy LaPan-Miller 1 year ago
Thassalaphobia is fear of the ocean. A lot of these are not oceans. Also it is a fallacy that someone with thassalaphobia would be afraid or unable to swim. An awful lot of swimmable water is not oceans.
Jessica Bertram 1 year ago
as a diver i would say i don't have a FEAR of the ocean per se. I have a deep and abiding respect for her. She is deep, powerful, and can kill in the blink of an eye. i DO take all precautions but even then things can go wrong, like in any sport. I saved my bestie (twice) on her first open-ocean dive, and she wasn't even aware of the danger in the moment. it was her ignorance and inattention that put her at risk, NOT the ocean herself. 💙
Donkey Pandaaaaaaaa 1 year ago
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOHGODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Jennifer Callahan 1 year ago
A lot of these have nothing to do with oceans... They are lakes, or indoors. Most aren't scary, but a few areskin crawling scary. Thank's for the post.
Joshuah Johnston 1 year ago
Sure, I can see where some of them are eerie, but I found a lot of them to be stunningly beautiful!
An Unpopular Opinion. 1 year ago
These are all either strangely beautiful and calm to me or fill me with panic, and on some I got both-
Lord Mysticlaw 1 year ago
This list taught me that it's not deep water that terrifies me, it's holes in deep water. Natural or man-made. Don't like them one bit.
Abbelius 1 year ago
Let's face it, at that point the only grudge he'd have against humanity is that we didn't let him get his shut eye...
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Brandon Aaron Miller 1 year ago
Good Day Dear, My name is. Mrs.Lena Olin Oberdorf. I live in Canada and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person or company that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of $129,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of $129,000.00USD Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs.Lena Oberdorf that refer you to him. Contact Dr. Mr. Benjamin Owen via email: reply to email (drbenjaminfinance@outlook.com) Legit Loan Lender Contact Managing Director: Dr. Benjamin Owen drbenjaminfinance@outlook.com
jovienosek@gmail.com 1 year ago
why am i here, i almost cried Several times reading this because I have thalassophobia and submechnophobia
Cai Tomlinson 1 year ago (edited)
Even sitting on the toilet was a bad place to read this article 🥴
John Martin 1 year ago
Enjoy the different views from everyone, thank you for the "mind candy"
Alyx Is Indeed A Rock 1 year ago
Why is everyone always like "Nope nope nope!" for the ones with people on the edges... I think we forget that water doesn't have the same gravity as air... You can just swim back up if you slip
Regina Machamer 1 year ago
I can't even play that marine biologist minecraft game, even with its purposely-awful graphics. As unrealistic as it is.. I start to panic when we swim deep down into darkness. And if a whale or shark shows up I'll scream.
Susanna Vesna 1 year ago
The only photos that freak people out are usually huge waves & dark water
Princess duck feathers 1 year ago
I love the ocean...even though these pictures terrify me when I'm actually there I love it
️ saturn the furry (she/they) 1 year ago
I have megalohydrothalassophobia, which is the fear of big underwater creatures or things, mixed with a bit of thalassophobia, so this was not fun for me and I have no clue why I did it
Couldnt_find_a_decent_name 1 year ago
Don’t get me wrong, the ocean is amazing and I have a great admiration for it, but it’s a absolutely ducking terrifying
Kit Kat 1 year ago
Idk this made me feel really calm. I personally love deep water but I showed my friend some of the pics and I freaked them out.
James Peters 1 year ago
I found very little of this scary or disturbing. Much of it was beautiful and gorgeously photographed though.
Some rando dude 1 year ago
Im someone who falls between fascination and complete terror. I think it comes from a place of respect. Nature is amazing, but if it's not treated with a level of respect, you'll find yourself meeting Davy Jones.
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 1 year ago
I was twice deliberately held under water to drown as a child. And now I have even more panic. Yay. (If you ask "Who'd do that?" My sister reallllly wanted to be an only child.)
Miss Frankfurter 1 year ago
OMG! I’m so sorry. Was she of an age when she would actually realize what she was doing? Either way, I hope she got help. And you too. How terrifying.
Load More Replies... Kathy LaPan-Miller 1 year ago
Thassalaphobia is fear of the ocean. A lot of these are not oceans. Also it is a fallacy that someone with thassalaphobia would be afraid or unable to swim. An awful lot of swimmable water is not oceans.
Jessica Bertram 1 year ago
as a diver i would say i don't have a FEAR of the ocean per se. I have a deep and abiding respect for her. She is deep, powerful, and can kill in the blink of an eye. i DO take all precautions but even then things can go wrong, like in any sport. I saved my bestie (twice) on her first open-ocean dive, and she wasn't even aware of the danger in the moment. it was her ignorance and inattention that put her at risk, NOT the ocean herself. 💙
Donkey Pandaaaaaaaa 1 year ago
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOHGODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Jennifer Callahan 1 year ago
A lot of these have nothing to do with oceans... They are lakes, or indoors. Most aren't scary, but a few areskin crawling scary. Thank's for the post.
Joshuah Johnston 1 year ago
Sure, I can see where some of them are eerie, but I found a lot of them to be stunningly beautiful!
An Unpopular Opinion. 1 year ago
These are all either strangely beautiful and calm to me or fill me with panic, and on some I got both-
Lord Mysticlaw 1 year ago
This list taught me that it's not deep water that terrifies me, it's holes in deep water. Natural or man-made. Don't like them one bit.
Abbelius 1 year ago
Let's face it, at that point the only grudge he'd have against humanity is that we didn't let him get his shut eye...
Load More Replies... Brandon Aaron Miller 1 year ago
Good Day Dear, My name is. Mrs.Lena Olin Oberdorf. I live in Canada and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person or company that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of $129,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of $129,000.00USD Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs.Lena Oberdorf that refer you to him. Contact Dr. Mr. Benjamin Owen via email: reply to email (drbenjaminfinance@outlook.com) Legit Loan Lender Contact Managing Director: Dr. Benjamin Owen drbenjaminfinance@outlook.com
jovienosek@gmail.com 1 year ago
why am i here, i almost cried Several times reading this because I have thalassophobia and submechnophobia
Cai Tomlinson 1 year ago (edited)
Even sitting on the toilet was a bad place to read this article 🥴
John Martin 1 year ago
Enjoy the different views from everyone, thank you for the "mind candy"
Alyx Is Indeed A Rock 1 year ago
Why is everyone always like "Nope nope nope!" for the ones with people on the edges... I think we forget that water doesn't have the same gravity as air... You can just swim back up if you slip
Regina Machamer 1 year ago
I can't even play that marine biologist minecraft game, even with its purposely-awful graphics. As unrealistic as it is.. I start to panic when we swim deep down into darkness. And if a whale or shark shows up I'll scream.
Susanna Vesna 1 year ago
The only photos that freak people out are usually huge waves & dark water
Princess duck feathers 1 year ago
I love the ocean...even though these pictures terrify me when I'm actually there I love it
️ saturn the furry (she/they) 1 year ago
I have megalohydrothalassophobia, which is the fear of big underwater creatures or things, mixed with a bit of thalassophobia, so this was not fun for me and I have no clue why I did it
Couldnt_find_a_decent_name 1 year ago
Don’t get me wrong, the ocean is amazing and I have a great admiration for it, but it’s a absolutely ducking terrifying
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