![]() According to the National Ocean Service less than five percent of the ocean has actually been explored. Why is the ocean inherently terrifying? For starters, most of it remains unexplored to this day. If this picture of a swimmer taking a dip in the middle of the Pacific gives you goosebumps, you may be scared of the ocean and what lies beneath. The negative space creates immediate tension with imagined horrors and leviathans that could lunge toward the defenseless swimmer at any moment. In the depths of the water they can appear from nowhere, and we don’t want to be around when they do! Deep, open water Image by Willyam Bradberryįor people with untethered thalassophobia one of the most cringe-inducing photos is simply one of a subject surrounded by dark, open water. This fact doesn’t stop us from recoiling in fear any time we see a photo of a shark in action. Only one person dies due to a shark attack every two years in the United States. It’s important to note that, statistically, a shark attack on a human is a rare occurrence. After the release of Steven Spielberg’s wildly successful Jaws the horror of sharks was forever cemented in the pantheons of pop culture. Sharks have served as the focal point of humanity’s collective apprehension of the sea for years. One of the classic images that stirs a deep fear of the ocean is this: a dead-eyed shark roaming the black depths of a bottomless expanse. Just don’t become prey yourself!ĭiscover Editor Sharks just below the surface Jellyfish actually thrive in waters that have been affected by pollution and overfishing, as they have fewer predators and more prey. If you’re scared of these creatures, we have bad news: the overall jellyfish population is currently booming, according to scientists. Lion’s mane jellyfish are more common on the west coast in the Pacific Ocean near Washington and Alaska, where the waters are cooler. Just to put into perspective how monstrous this measurement is, consider that the longest blue whale ever measured was just 108 feet. The largest recorded lion’s mane jellyfish measured seven feet and six inches in diameter, and its tentacles measured 121 feet long. But if you see a lion’s mane jellyfish in open water you may never set foot in the ocean again. Many jellyfish are harmless enough, clocking in anywhere from two to twelve inches in length. Does scuba diving in the dark, unexplored recesses of a shipwreck sound exciting, or like your worst nightmare? If it’s the latter, you probably have thalassophobia.ĭon’t take our word for it: Check out these scary ocean pictures and decide for yourself – if you dare! Terrifyingly large jellyfish Image by Joost van Uffelen ![]() Many people harbor a deep dread of open water, or of finding themselves face-to-face with a massive sea creature in the middle of the ocean. ![]() You may not have heard of thalassophobia, or “the fear of the sea,” but you’ve probably felt it gnawing at you when you see a photo of a lone shark in a lagoon or a sunken ship. Even if there’s no risk of drowning, just looking at ocean photos and picturing yourself in the untold immensity of the sea can fill you with fear. Both of these hypothetical sensations are probably met with enthusiasm anticipation – but now imagine you’re swimming in the middle of the ocean. Imagine doing a few laps in your local swimming pool, or of taking a refreshing dip in the river an hour out of town on a hot summer day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |