I have a phobia of water—specifically oceans, seas, and large bodies of water. The fear of drowning is constant. The first time I went to the ocean with my family, I was probably thirteen or fourteen years old. I waded into the water with my mother, and when she encouraged me to put my face in, the instant the water touched my skin, I gripped her arms so tightly that I scratched her. I was convinced I was drowning, even though I was completely fine and literally standing above the water.
That is the thing about the ocean: it is unpredictable. That is what scares me the most—the sheer power of it. One minute you are relaxing in the shallow water at the shore, and the next, it pulls you further and further out. Then, panic sets in. And I cannot swim. So, if you cannot swim either, please be careful.
I have been trying to learn as much as I can about the ocean and seas in general, specifically regarding safety. For instance, did you know what a purple flag means at the beach? Neither did I, but it turns out it is quite important. Then, a friend told me about something strange she saw at the beach. She noticed a specific spot in the water where there were absolutely no waves. Just one calm patch amidst the breaking surf. When she told me about it, I was immediately alarmed. It was something I had never heard of, so I decided to investigate.
The Danger of Calm Water
