23 Terrifying Ocean Photos to Spark Your Inner Thalassophobia

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 08/02/2024 in creepy

According to Wikipedia, "Thalassophobia is the persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water, such as the ocean, seas, or lakes."

As someone with a bit of it myself, I can tell you that this feeling is a strong uneasiness triggered by the unimaginable size and depth of the ocean. Specifically, knowing what lies beneath the waves, what those things could do to you, that they could come for you from any 3D direction, that you wouldn't see them until the last moment, and that you'd be powerless to stop them.

These 23 photos of the deep blue sea and other dangerous bodies of water go to show that humans just don't belong down there. We know more about the surface of the moon than the ocean floor, and for good reason. It's terrifying.

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1.
2.
3.
Fish at night.
4.
5.
“Photo from my brother who’s in the middle of the Gulf working on an oil rig.”
6.
One of Alex Dawson’s award-winning scuba diving photos.
7.
A compliant tower, (oil rig platform), in the gulf of Mexico.
8.
The edge of the abyss.
9.
“My friend recently went swimming with sharks off the coast of Oahu. As she got into the water, she snapped this photo of the depths below.”
10.
“Exploring the inhospitable world under the ice.”
11.
12.
Kelp forest, Eaglehawk, Tasmania.
13.
14.
Winner photo of NatGeo's 2015 Travel Photo Contest by Anuar Patjane Floriuk shows the sheer enormity of a humpback whale with her calf compared to a group of divers.
15.
Ocean drop-off.
16.
Stopped above the Marianas Trench.
17.
A ship in the Solomon Islands.
18.
19.
Ships underwater, coming out of the deep.
20.
“Faced a fear yesterday. Thought you might enjoy the view.”
21.
22.
Freediving next to a cliff.
23.
“Better start swimming…”

1.
2.
3.
Fish at night.
4.
5.
“Photo from my brother who’s in the middle of the Gulf working on an oil rig.”
6.
One of Alex Dawson’s award-winning scuba diving photos.
7.
A compliant tower, (oil rig platform), in the gulf of Mexico.
8.
The edge of the abyss.
9.
“My friend recently went swimming with sharks off the coast of Oahu. As she got into the water, she snapped this photo of the depths below.”
10.
“Exploring the inhospitable world under the ice.”
11.
12.
Kelp forest, Eaglehawk, Tasmania.
13.
14.
Winner photo of NatGeo's 2015 Travel Photo Contest by Anuar Patjane Floriuk shows the sheer enormity of a humpback whale with her calf compared to a group of divers.
15.
Ocean drop-off.
16.
Stopped above the Marianas Trench.
17.
A ship in the Solomon Islands.
18.
19.
Ships underwater, coming out of the deep.
20.
“Faced a fear yesterday. Thought you might enjoy the view.”
21.
22.
Freediving next to a cliff.
23.
“Better start swimming…”