22 Photos Proving the Fear of Water Is No Laughing Matter (23 Photos)

You’ve probably heard of hydrophobia or aquaphobia—the fear of entering water, swimming, or, worst of all, drowning. But as it turns out, there’s another water-related fear: thalassophobia.

Thalassophobia is the intense fear of deep bodies of water, such as seas and oceans. For those who suffer from it, even standing near the water's edge can trigger panic, let alone taking a dip. The 22 photos we’ve put together below go a long way toward explaining where that dread comes from.







Kayaking alongside giants!





That dark patch is a drop-off plunging 200 meters down.



Pools with black tiles are surprisingly eerie.



An underwater waterfall.



Terrifyingly beautiful!



The deadliest stretch of water in the world. It looks unassuming enough, but beneath the surface lies a network of caves and a fierce current guaranteed to drag you under.



The Pacific Ocean.



Wouldn't want to be on that boat.



When the fear of flying meets the fear of water…



The abyss.



There used to be a street here.



It's just a wave, but it's enough to trigger pure primal panic.



Not a place for the faint of heart.



Guadalupe Island—quite possibly the scariest place on Earth.



U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima take a swim call in the Gulf of Aden.



An iceberg seen from below.



A diver hitching a ride on a giant underwater worm.



How deep is it here? Actually, on second thought, don't tell me.



A picturesque body of water in Croatia. Anyone up for a swim?



This vessel can flip vertically to study how sound waves behave underwater.



“Was looking through old photos and spotted something horrifying.”



This guy has nerves of steel!