Terrifying Oceans vs. Space: 12 Reasons Why Oceans Are Scarier
As an avid scuba diver and ocean explorer for over 20 years, I can definitively say the ocean is far more terrifying than outer space. While the dark expanse of the universe may seem full of unknowns, our own oceans here on Earth pose far greater dangers and mysteries waiting to be discovered.
In this guide, I will provide 12 reasons why venturing into the ocean depths is exponentially more frightening than space travel. As we will see, threats in our oceans range from venomous wildlife and rising sea levels, to bacteria and the alarming Great Pacific Garbage Patch. If the following doesn‘t convince you of why oceans are scarier, I‘m not sure what will!
- Extreme Ocean Wildlife Can Kill
While space may have black holes, the ocean is filled with deadly predators like great white sharks, venomous blue-ringed octopuses, and saltwater crocodiles. According to the Florida Museum, sharks alone killed an average of six people per year between 2001 and 2010. Coming face to face with a great white shark, the oceans‘ most prolific predator with rows of serrated teeth, is certainly more terrifying than any alien life forms we could discover in space!
- Rising and Unpredictable Sea Levels
Due to climate change, global sea levels have risen about 8 inches since 1900 with the rate of rise accelerating, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As oceans absorb excess heat and ice sheets melt, scientists estimate sea levels could rise an entire foot by 2050. This poses grave dangers as flooding events already cost coastal cities worldwide over $6 billion per year in losses. Can you imagine NYC or Miami nearly entirely swallowed by the sea? Far scarier than any meteor hurtling through space!
- Sheer Blackness and Unknown Creatures of the Deep Sea
Over 80% of the ocean remains entirely unmapped and unobserved by humans, according to NOAA‘s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Imagine being surrounded by sheer darkness with mysterious creatures brushing up beside you like the fangtooth snake eel with its gigantic mouth filled with sharp teeth. I‘ll take nebulae and stars over the blackness of the ocean abyss anytime!
- Apocalyptic Hurricanes and Tsunamis
Category 5 hurricanes can unleash winds over 157 mph while tsunamis propagate waves 100 feet high traveling at jetliner speeds. Both these ocean phenomena have proven far more disastrous than any solar flare space could throw our way. Hurricanes like the 1900 Galveston hurricane killed between 6,000 and 12,000 people while the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami claimed over 230,000 lives in a single day. Absolutely terrifying!
- Countless Shipwrecks and Lost Souls at Sea
The ocean is essentially a mass grave, having swallowed over 3 million ships throughout history along with countless lost souls, according to the UN Ocean Decade Report. Imagine vanishing without a trace, never to be seen again by loved ones. Far more haunting than floating endlessly through space!
- Menacing Flesh-Eating Bacteria
Warm ocean waters are the perfect breeding ground for deadly bacteria, like the flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus. According to the CDC, this aggressive bacteria causes over 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths every year in the US alone. Upon infection, open wounds can become ulcerated and require amputation. I‘ll pass on taking a dip!
- Massive Oceanic Garbage Patches
Imagine sailing through a floating landmass of plastic bottles, fishing nets, and debris scattered as far as the eye can see. This is the stark reality of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which contains over 87,000 tons of plastic and covers an estimated surface area twice the size of Texas, according to The Ocean Cleanup project. Talk about an alarming eye sore!
- Sheer Scope and Endless Depth
The ocean comprises over 70% of the Earth‘s surface and hides abysses like the Mariana Trench that plunge to depths deeper than Mount Everest is high at nearly 7 miles down. The sheer mammoth scope paired with an inability to fully grasp these unfathomable depths makes venturing out on the open ocean far creepier than space.
- More Lightning Strikes
Believe it or not, the ocean endures much more frequent lightning strikes than land. According to NASA, nearly 90% of all lightning occurs over the ocean. Getting struck while adrift on a boat or swimming is a sailor’s worst nightmare!
- Rogue Waves
Rogue waves up to 100 feet tall can seemingly appear out of nowhere even in calm seas and disappear as quickly as they form. According to the National Ocean Service, these killer waves have been known to snap large ships in two. The ocean’s terrifying unpredictability keeps you constantly on guard.
- Far More Mysteries Than Space
We have explored less than 5% of Earth’s oceans while we have mapped entire galaxies and traveled billions of miles into outer space. There are likely more mysteries lurking in ocean trenches than we could ever discover in the furthest reaches of the universe. Simply put, the oceans pose more uncertainties and warrant far more fear.
- General Sense of Powerlessness
While astronauts receive years of specialized training, us average joes and janes would be helpless drifters out on the open ocean. Few environments make you feel as terrifyingly small and powerless as being afloat on miles of swelling waves in a tiny boat or raft. One wrong move and mother nature will consume you whole.
The Bottom Line…Oceans Are Far More Terrifying!
As we‘ve discovered, the ocean poses far greater tangible threats than the emptiness of space could ever profess. From deadly sea creatures and disastrous weather phenomena to vast dumps of debris and hidden abysses, oceans warrant tremendously more fear and respect. We’ve conquered space travel yet remain vastly outmatched by the sea and her wrath.
So next time you want to profess your fear of planets, black holes or asteroids careening through the cosmos, consider the far more deadly threats lurking within our own oceans here on Earth. Mother Nature‘s domain has proven far scarier over millennia!
I hope this overview has shed more light on why our oceans are exponentially more terrifying than outer space! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.