The sea can be as tempestuous and brutal as it is beautiful. For some people, bodies of water hold a deep fear that others might not fully understand. However, through the power of photography, everyone can feel this sense of lingering dread.
Our team at Bored Panda has compiled a list of the most terrifying and mesmerizing photos of open water that are bound to send shivers down your spine. You’ll find them as you scroll down—just make sure you know where the life vests and rowing boats are before you do so!
Meanwhile, if you suffer from thalassophobia—the fear of deep bodies of water—we suggest that you skip this post… unless you want to dip your toes in some exposure therapy.
#1 Extreme Waves In The North Sea
Image credits: Morksky
#2 Stormy Sea
Image credits: communist_caleb
#3 East Coast Low Intensifying
Image credits: ihaig72sydney
People who suffer from thalassophobia have intense fears of bodies of water that appear vast, dark, deep, and dangerous. This encompasses bodies of water of different sizes, whether we’re talking about something as vast as the ocean or the sea, or something much smaller, like lakes.
Verywell Mind notes that this phobia is less connected to being scared of the water itself than to the fear of what might lurk beneath the surface… just out of sight.
#4 Now You Have An Aquarium
Image credits: bothcoasts
#5 Stormy Seas
Image credits: Roger_Weston
#6 It's 50% Exciting And 50% Scary. The Hole Is 150 Meters Deep, And It's Actually Way Too Cold To Swim In There For Longer Than A Few Seconds
Image credits: kirxxii
Thalassaphobia is caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors. It’s very likely that our ancestors were very cautious around deep bodies of water, so their genes got passed down to future generations. On the flip side, some of the people who didn’t mind these fears as much might have ended up drowning.
#7 Orcas Breaching In Rough Seas, Photo Taken From A Sword Fishing Boat Off The Coast Of Nova Scotia
Image credits: br4ndnewbr4d
#8 Staring Down What Could Be A 1,000-Ft-Deep Wormhole Through The Blue Ice Of The Lower Ruth Glacier
Image credits: argonautphoto
#9 It's Hard To Beat Diving In This Majestic Cenote In The Summer Months
Image credits: tom.st.george
However, it’s not just your genetics that plays a role in the phobias you develop. The way your parents raise you, your environment, and your experiences all have important roles to play. For example, if you were raised in a household where the adults get panicky any time someone approaches any body of water, then you might have ended up copying their response.
#10 Sea
Image credits: MiTa988
#11 There's Something Unsettling About A Calm Sea
Image credits: iambrillant
#12 Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. Where Inuit Still Hunt For Food And Often Have To Cross Cracks Like This With Their Snowmobiles And Homemade Sleds (Though Not As Big As This)
Image credits: NimblyJimblyNS
Similarly, if you had any scary encounters at the seaside or swimming in a lake, you might avoid large bodies of water like the plague. Seeing others drown or nearly drowning yourself can make you extremely wary of going anywhere near open water from that point onward. Just thinking about it can make you feel nauseous, dizzy, and light-headed.
#13 A Few Shots From Yesterday's Dive Session In The Blue Hole
Image credits: adamfreediver
#14 Perfect Conditions For A Dive
Image credits: kristinkuba
#15 Abandoned Silver Mine Shafts. Lake Superior Thunder Bay Ontario
Image credits: Mooky7
Some of the other symptoms that people suffering from thalassophobia can experience include intense feelings of anxiety, detachment, a sense of impending doom, and the desire to run away. However, you don’t necessarily have to spend the rest of your life being afraid of going to the seaside, swimming, or sailing.
#16 Big Waves Catching The Light At Tynemouth Pier On Sunday
Image credits: Jim Scott Photography
#17 In The Water Column
Image credits: André Musgrove Underwater Photography
#18 We Were At 60 Ft To Capture This Photo
Image credits: andremusgrove
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to slowly desensitize people who suffer from various phobias. To put it simply, the idea is to gradually help someone get used to large bodies of water, with the guidance of a therapist. That might mean taking things very slow at the start, by showing the patient photos of bodies of water, so they can get used to them.
#19 People Watching A Wave From Hurricane Lee
Image credits: debblauss
#20 Diving The Flooded Caves In Mexico Feels Like Time Traveling To A Moment Before The Last Ice Age When These Formations Were Dripping Passage Ways To The Spirit World
Image credits: twanathan
#21 Underground Freshwater Storage In Munich, Germany
Image credits: TheRealSlimHayzel
Then, they might visit a large body of water and look at it from a distance. Or they might even end up literally dipping their toes in water. The exact approach, of course, will depend on the specialist and their experience, as well as the individual patient. While living with a particular phobia isn’t impossible, it does radically reduce the number of opportunities you can embrace in life.
#22 When The Sun Goes Behind A Cloud It's Like Someone Turned Off The Lights. All You Can Do Is Hope They Come Back On Again Soon
Image credits: tom.st.george
#23 I Went Kayaking In An Abandoned Limestone Mine
Image credits: appleyjuice13
#24 These Photos Of My Wife Just Tug At My Heart Strings
Image credits: shredgnargnarpowpow
Someone dealing with thalassophobia may end up isolating themselves socially. For example, they may be unwilling to go swimming or sailing with their friends or to go visit the seaside for a lovely picnic with their family. This phobia can also interfere with their travel arrangements. The person in question might avoid sailing on boats or ferries and may even have trouble flying on planes which often do long stretches above the ocean.
#25 Massive Mexican Cavern
Image credits: jferraragallery
#26 After Walking 50 M Into A Narrow, 150-Year-Old Gold Mine, This Vertical Shaft Emerges
Image credits: Responsible_Shake_83
#27 I Took This Picture Today, And It Looks Creepy
Image credits: _NKD2_
On top of that, thalassophobia victims also have panic attacks to contend with. Meanwhile, Verywell Mind points out that some phobias can also make people more prone to depression, as well as substance abuse as a way to treat symptoms of anxiety. Obviously, this is an unhealthy way of coping with fear. Exercise, meditation, deep relationships, and therapy are far better alternatives.
#28 Sea Cave - Anacortes, Washington
Image credits: charliespannaway
#29 The Extreme Lengths Some Go To For Their Alone Time
Image credits: adamfreediver
#30 Sudden Shiver Down My Spine
Image credits: get-priest-on-LWIAY
Which of the photos in this list impressed and scared you the most, Pandas? Have you ever been afraid of open water? Share your thoughts in the comments.
In the meantime, for some more eerie, uncomfortable, and powerful phobia-inducing photos, take a swim through Bored Panda’s earlier features.
#31 I Don't Like Deep Waters
Image credits: PenguinsOverPuffins
#32 Salem Express
Image credits: kurt_storms_photography
#33 Always Lurking Just Out Of Sight
Image credits: reddit.com
#34 Snorkeling With Leopard Sharks In La Jolla Was Truly An Unforgettable Experience
Image credits: thejournaloflosttime
#35 It Appears To Be Some Kind Of A Hole, And I'm Going In
Image credits: GarysCrispLettuce
#36 Common Starfish Looks Cool On This Frame At Balicasag Island Bohol
Image credits: mgabatangdagat
#37 The Elpida Wreck In Cyprus Is One Of Many Great Wrecks Along With The Famous Zenobia Wreck
This wreck was scuttled in 2019 only a 20-minute boat ride from Larnaca harbor. The bottom of the wreck is around 30m, and the most shallow parts are 10-15m. The wreck still has a steering wheel and is great for beginners and experienced wreck divers.
Image credits: alex_dawson_photography
#38 Yacht In Rough Seas 2012
Image credits: help_improve_my_pics
#39 Creepy Pond Weeds
Image credits: mike_____f
#40 Sailing Into The Storm
Image credits: dwstevens
#41 Night At Sea
Image credits: Mercarcher
#42 Just Diving Along The Shipwreck Of A Libyan Tanker Um El Faroud Near Malta At About 35 M/115 Ft Deep
Image credits: fanton18
#43 Milada Lake, Czech Republic
Image credits: esmo52
#44 Higgins Lake, Michigan Where The Entire 34 Km Shoreline Features A Sudden Drop-Off
Image credits: candlegun
#45 Another Shot From Our Session At Cenote Angelita
Image credits: tom.st.george
#46 Freediving Around The Bahamas
Image credits: andremusgrove
#47 Trees Underwater On The Edge Of A Clear, Deep Lake
Image credits: reddit.com
#48 Couldn't Find My Way Back The Other Afternoon
Image credits: mahhhhhh
#49 I Was On A Boat Last Night, And The Ocean Looked Scary
Image credits: Myzzelf0
#50 My Cousin's Sister-In-Law Works On A Tugboat That Tows Oil Platforms Across The Ocean. In All Weather Conditions
Image credits: D3qual
#51 Just A Picture Of Heavy Sea
Image credits: MCPenner
#52 Thalassophobia Triggered
Image credits: Ganemede-x
#53 Saw These Underwater Trees While Hiking, This Kind Of Stuff Freaks Me Out
Image credits: Ape_Squid
#54 There's About 500 Feet Below Mine
I went out on the Ocean for the first time in 10+ years. Throwing my feet over the edge made me feel green around the gills.
Image credits: FatLionGuy
#55 Another Day At Work, Pretending I'm An Astronaut
Image credits: HannahAquanaut
#56 Tajma Ha, Mexico
Image credits: scottbauerbelow
#57 One Of My Training Grounds In Sweden And Definitely My Favorite Dive Site
The diving takes place 85 meters underground, and the only way up and down is by walking over 400 stairs. This image was captured in the Abyss at a diving depth of 55 meters, situated between the two main dive levels of 35 meters and 75 meters.
Image credits: alex_dawson_photography
#58 On 24th March We Dove The HMAS Adelaide, A 138 Meters Long Frigate Sunk On Purpose North Of Sydney
Image credits: nicolaslenaremy
#59 Rough Day In The Gulf Of Mexico
Image credits: CaptAnonymous89
#60 Storm Surge In Narragansett RI This Morning
Image credits: Weather In RI
#61 Anchor Rope Looking That Way
Image credits: mantridseal
#62 The Guys In The Water Are Standing On A Bow Plane
Image credits: Work-Safe-Reddit4450
#63 A Cozy Descent
Image credits: vrmptns01
#64 Giant Vortice Building Up In The Black Sea
Image credits: RoccomGG
#65 Ferry Trip With My Father-In-Law. He Goes "Once A Friend Of Mine Fell From The Boat. Was Never Seen Again." Thanks For Sharing Man
Image credits: leorolim
#66 Alannah Had To Freedive To 50 Ft With No Fins And Swim Along The Sandy Bottom On A Runway-Shaped Sand Hill That Goes Straight Over The Drop-Off
Image credits: andremusgrove
#67 A Caribbean Reef Shark Framed In A Hatchway From My Dive On Big Crab In Nassau, The Bahamas
Image credits: tom.st.george
#68 Rare To Get The Frosty Atlantic This Clear And For Several Days In A Row
Image credits: piersgreatperhaps
#69 Big Blue Hole In Belize
Image credits: Honeybbug
#70 I Have Arrived On Another Planet
Image credits: adamfreediver
#71 Fish
Image credits: kristinkuba
#72 Deep And Vast, Mediterranean Sea
Image credits: cruisereg
#73 Somewhere Over The Indian Ocean
Image credits: iosefkay
#74 Pier Side At Night
Image credits: tha_blak_sheep
#75 Seen Outside Of A Cave Bath In Hungary. I Don't Like Seeing Those Vines Underwater
Image credits: WinkyTheFrog
#76 Some Photos Of My Recent Dives
Just wanted to share some photos taken by my awesome scuba friends. I don't have scuba gear so I just join them with one breath. They usually dive at 15 to 20 metres so it's awesome to go see them, have a quick look around, and head up. It's been really good training. A year ago I was pretty scared of just putting my head below water, and now I can't get enough of it.
Image credits: rhysmate
#77 Cave Diving, It's Not For Everyone, But If You Think It Might Be Right For You, You Owe It To Yourself To Learn From The Best
Image credits: kurt_storms_photography
#78 A Thalassophobia-Themed Underwater Portrait I Took, What Do You Guys Think?
Image credits: tmfult
#79 This Cloud Of Jellyfishes That Ruined One Of My Morning Swims
Image credits: LavenderClouds
#80 The North Sea As Seen From The Top Of The Mast Of A 70 Ft Ocean Racer
Image credits: bovabu
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