30 Horrifying Ocean Stories From Sailors, Divers, And Surfers Which They Wish They Couldn't Remember
Some ocean stories start with a calm day and end with everyone wishing they had stayed on shore. That is exactly the kind of nightmare this Reddit thread delivers, with sailors, divers, surfers, and other water veterans sharing the moments that stuck with them long after they got back on land.
The original question pulled in a wave of replies about deep water, strange encounters, and the kind of fear that only the ocean can create. From cave dives to eerie sightings and close calls, these stories show why thalassophobia hits so hard for so many people.
Read on if you want the full thread, because some of these replies are hard to shake.
The question has been popped:
Check out the replies below:
1. Octopus
2. Scuba dive
Thalassophobia, the intense fear of deep water, is a phenomenon that can be understood through the lens of evolutionary psychology. Research indicates that such fears often stem from our ancestors' need to survive in environments where water posed significant dangers, such as drowning or encounters with predators.
Studies show that individuals with thalassophobia may experience heightened anxiety and physiological responses, such as increased heart rate and sweating, even when thinking about deep water. By acknowledging these fears as remnants of our evolutionary past, individuals can work towards reframing their experiences and reducing the stigma associated with their phobias.
3. Egypt dive
4. They're everywhere
5. Boat tour
I've posted this before but it's been a year, so f**k it haha
So this is proper babby's first free dive material and I've since learned I'm terrified of the ocean, so this probably isn't that scary to most people. However...
I was on a boat tour that stopped off in a small bay with f*****g beautiful, crystal clear, light turquoise water and nearly white sands. We'd just finished swimming with some sting rays when the tour guide offered to take some of us out for a swim in deeper water.
I was hesitant as he said the current can get quite strong and I'm not the best swimmer, but he said I could join them for as long as I felt comfortable, so I came along.
There was a small group going at a leisurely pace that I could clearly see, so I decided to do some free diving. As I said, the water was gorgeously clear. I was diving down to these little reef outcrops and checking out the fish and had barely looked ahead of me other than to check on the group.
I finished inspecting another little coral group and turned around to see where the group were and suddenly saw the sandy sea floor disappear over a knife sharp drop off. The water was so deep and inky blue with no sea floor in sight and my stomach somehow dropped into my a*s and jumped into my throat at the same time.
I surfaced ASAP and got as far away from the drop off as possible and tried to pretend I never saw it.
Fear responses, especially in contexts involving vast bodies of water, can also be linked to personal experiences or traumas. This is consistent with classical conditioning theories where a previously neutral stimulus (water) becomes a conditioned stimulus associated with fear.
Understanding the roots of such fears can empower individuals to confront them. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, including exposure therapy, have proven effective in gradually desensitizing individuals to their fears by helping them face their anxieties in a controlled, therapeutic setting.
6. South Dakota
7. A scare
8. Massive Manta
Social factors play a significant role in shaping our fears and perceptions, particularly regarding activities like sailing or diving. Research from the University of California, Berkeley, highlights how social norms and peer influences can amplify fears. For instance, if a person is surrounded by friends or family who express fear of the ocean, they're more likely to adopt similar fears, even if they had no prior anxieties.
This phenomenon underscores the importance of understanding group dynamics. The study found that people often conform to group opinions, even against their better judgment. Therefore, fostering a supportive and encouraging environment can help mitigate fears associated with ocean activities, allowing individuals to engage more positively with water.
9. Malibu pier
10. The spookiest
11. Scuba diving
Scuba Diving in Vanuatu on the President Coolidge, very famous wreck dive that you can walk from the shore and dive the bow from 15 meters all the way down to 70 meters.
I was 14 at the time and my parents were life long divers, we dived the Coolidge twice that day already and our guide offered a night dive to us.
We were supposed to only dive down to a depth of 25 meters and check out these flashlight fish that would school together in a cargo hold, they had these really bright green eyes that looked amazing and lit up underwater. I still don’t really know what happened that night but it felt like we were staring at these fish for forever. Suddenly I didn’t feel right, my breathing felt funny, I tried to grab my gauge to check how much air I had left, it took every bit of muscle I had to reach for my gauge connected to my waist, I slowly grabbed it and read that I had about half a tank left, relived for a split second but still concerned something was wrong I reached for my mum to signal her something wasn’t right, I grabbed her arm but couldn’t hold on, I just started sinking to the bottom. My mum quickly grabbed my arm as I fell but I had no leg movement, so I started dragging her to the bottom with me, my dad now realises somethings wrong and grabs my mum trying to pull us all up. The dive guide now is freaking out and trying to make sure everyone is alright, they all start swimming me back up and in to shore. Once we got up closer, I started to feel normal again but abit dazed and confused. Turns out I had nitrogen narcosis, and had dropped to 40 meters when I couldn’t swim anymore. For those of you who don’t know what nitrogen narcosis is, it’s when you have to much nitrogen in your body and it gives you a intoxicated effect.
Nothing to hectic but still a vivid memory of thinking I was gonna sink to the bottom of the ocean not being able to do anything about it.
Engaging with nature, including oceans and lakes, has been shown to have numerous psychological benefits. Research from Stanford University indicates that spending time near water can reduce stress and anxiety levels significantly. This is particularly relevant when considering the juxtaposition of fear and the potential therapeutic benefits of aquatic environments.
To harness these benefits while managing fears, it may be useful to start with small, manageable experiences in water, such as wading in shallow areas or participating in guided activities like kayaking. Gradually increasing exposure while utilizing mindfulness techniques can help individuals feel more in control and reduce anxiety.
12. The creepiest
13. Awesome experience
14. Dive squad
Trauma can profoundly influence how individuals perceive and interact with the ocean. Traumatic experiences can lead to a heightened sense of vulnerability and fear, particularly in contexts that remind individuals of their trauma. For those who have experienced distressing events related to water, these feelings can become deeply ingrained, leading to severe anxiety or avoidance behaviors.
Therapeutic approaches, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), can effectively help individuals process and reframe traumatic memories related to water. This technique allows individuals to confront their fears in a safe space, facilitating healing and resilience over time.
Speaking of unsettling deep-water encounters, this is similar to the alien-feeling deep sea world with glowing, strange animals.
15. Night dive
16. Cave diving
I do a fair bit of cave diving in North Florida and help out with exploration projects. I've got a couple. One is mine, one is a friend's.
So my friend was checking a lead in an offset sink to see if there was any going cave one afternoon. Offset sinks are physically distant from the main cave conduit, so while a primary trunk passage may have lots of clear ground water, an offset sink won't get much water circulation, so rainwater and runoff will tend to stay there for a long time. They're typically very murky and brown, clearing as you approach main cave passage. He's about 100ft in at a depth of 40 or 50ft. Nothing insane, but it's braille diving. Trying to feel his way around while running a line to see if anything goes. He comes across a wall about a foot in front of him that looks a bit unique. Often times you'll see cool patterns of mineral buildup in cave walls/floors/ceilings. So he's appreciating this cool pattern when that pattern opens its mouth and shows off its teeth and tongue. Turns out a not insignificantly sized gator lived in that sink and wasn't happy about the home invasion. He set a new speed record getting back to the surface of that particular sink. Gators aren't uncommon down there and they usually leave you alone, but not when you get that close to them in their own territory.
My story was a bit less exciting but pretty somber. I was doing a dive in the back of a fairly regularly traveled cave system, but in an area where a body had been recovered from about a mile back the week prior. That area isn't as regularly dived due to the logistics and cave passage geometry. It's not a small dive to get back there. The recovery was really challenging and there were signs of damage to the cave as we swam along where the body had been forced through restrictions, through mud, etc. But the real reality check came when we found his mask in the mud several thousand feet back. It had been dislodged (along with his nose) while the recovery divers tried to force him through a small area. It really drove home the reality of where I was and what I was doing and the respect necessary for the environment.
17. Surfing
I was surfing scripps pier in San Diego about 6 years ago. It was flat, onshore wind, really messy conditions but I spent 40 min driving there and said “ I’ll just get in the water and paddle around a bit”. There was nobody in the water.
I decided to paddle around the pier, going from the north side to the south side. When I reached the last pylon, a HUGE fin popped up about 5 feet in front of me. I knew instantly it was a massive white shark (12-15ft based on the size of the fin)- I’ve been surfing my whole life, I’ve been in the water with dolphins many times. This was 100% not a dolphin.
This fin was more triangular with a serrated back side (almost like a steak knife) with a sandpaper looking texture. Dolphins have more scoop in their fin and very smooth texture on their skin.
The way it swam gave me instant chills- fishy, more side to side and straight than the classic up and down, coming up for breath dolphin.
I froze. Trying to control my panic, waited for it to disappear and as smoothly as possible, turned my board around, paddled through the pier back to land.
It was absolutely checking me out but didn’t show any interest towards me. Since then, I’m not that afraid of sharks but I still get the chills thinking about that day.
Understanding the psychological concept of 'cognitive distortions' can also shed light on how people interpret their experiences in the ocean. Cognitive distortions are irrational thought patterns that can lead to heightened anxiety. For instance, an individual may catastrophize a situation, believing that a minor incident in water will lead to drowning.
Techniques such as journaling or cognitive restructuring can help individuals recognize and alter these negative thought patterns, ultimately reducing their fear of the ocean.
18. Super tame
19. Coral structure
20. Horrifying sounds
Mindfulness practices can be particularly effective for those struggling with water-related fears. By focusing on the present moment and acknowledging feelings without judgment, individuals can create a buffer against overwhelming fear responses.
Strategies such as deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation can be incorporated into mindfulness practices. These techniques not only alleviate anxiety when faced with water but also equip individuals with tools to manage stress in other areas of their lives.
21. Bermuda Triangle
22. First deployment
23. Morro Bay
Connection to the ocean can also be a source of healing and empowerment. Engaging in activities like surfing or diving can foster a sense of accomplishment and connection to nature, which is beneficial for mental health.
To leverage this, individuals dealing with water fears might consider starting with group classes or workshops that emphasize skill-building in a supportive environment. This not only helps in overcoming fears but also builds a community of support that can motivate continued engagement with the ocean.
24. Coast of Okinawa
25. Diving time
26. Persian gulf
Education plays a crucial role in alleviating fears associated with the ocean.
27. Pod of dolphins
28. Bobbitt worm
29. Mono Fin
I remember a couple years ago, a buddy of mine had rented a boat out for my birthday to go out in the sea with. It was going perfectly fine, the boat was super nice, good for fishing, had a great deck. When he told me he was going to rent one, i thought to order a new fin to scuba with. It was a mono fin since i had never gotten a chance to use one. I’ve been practicing with it, so it was perfect to use it out in the sea.
We started to go out off the coast of the cape and the water was a bit chilly, but not ice cold. we were maybe 22 miles out from the coast while still having an eye sight of the shore. My friend brought fishing baits and rods for us to use later on, but after i was finished scuba diving. I was ready to get off the deck of the boat with my wetsuit and mono fin, my tank resting on my arm before i was going to dunk in. After a couple minutes, i had this really weird chill down my spine. Not paranoia, but superstition. I brushed it off and put my tank on my back, followed by my goggles.
I felt that weird superstition feeling again but it quickly switched to paranoia when i saw a pair of glistening eyes in the ocean. At first what i thought was a shark, it had not been a shark. I’ve had my fair share of training for 6 years with sharks and other deep ocean water creatures, so i thought i’d be able to handle this. It slowly started making it way towards me when i got a better glimpse at it, it was HUGE and i mean massive, it’s teeth were poking on the side of its jaw and even had razor sharp fins. And how i know this wasn’t a shark because they have a more smooth rubbery type of flesh, this one had scales like a snake. Blood was pouring out of its mouth, it looked like it was ready for its next meal.
I attempted to hurry, but i was in shock and i thought i was to die from shock or from this thing eating me. I finally cut out of shock the moment it started to swim more swiftly, but the mono fin could only go so fast in the water. My buddy was getting a little suspicious that i hadn’t come up with anything from the depths of the ocean. He looked over the boat deck and i guess could see me attempting to swim for my life as a dark shadow was inching closer. I eventually reached the boat and out of breath i told him to book it. we ended up not using the boat for the rest of the day and went home. To this day, i have no idea what it was, but in all my years of experience, i dont want to find out.
30. Night diving
It takes a lot of coaching and the appropriate equipment to do cave diving safely. A well-trained team that follows their training has a very good chance of escaping most bad situations, but only if they maintain their cool and work through the danger in a rational way.
Which of these tales frightened you the most? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
The ocean, often viewed as a serene escape, holds darker tales that can haunt those who venture into its depths. The narratives shared in this article reveal a raw and unsettling reality, highlighting how encounters with the ocean can lead to profound psychological impacts. The fear experienced by sailors, divers, and surfers is not merely a product of their imagination; it stems from both evolutionary instincts and personal trauma. These experiences serve as a reminder that acknowledging such fears is crucial for anyone who wishes to move beyond them. It is through understanding these complex emotions that individuals can begin to heal and rebuild their relationship with the sea. Embracing education about the ocean’s dangers, practicing mindfulness, and fostering community support are essential steps in transforming fear into a newfound appreciation for its beauty and power. The stories shared here are not just cautionary tales; they are invitations to reflect on the delicate balance between awe and fear that the ocean evokes.
Want more eerie ocean surprises, like the rare discoveries in parts of the ocean rarely reached?
Share this article:
