Knowing that we don’t know much about the scary depths is why so many have been afraid of the ocean. After all, only about 5% of the Earth’s oceans have been explored.
This unknown place is home to some of the scariest predators on our planet: some are sleek hunters, some are massive, and some are eerily Lovecraftian! These predators remind us that the deep blue is, yes, beautiful and amazing. But also dangerous.
Ready to dive into the scary waters and see what the ocean has to offer? I’m not, but gotta take the dip anyway!
1. Barracuda
They look like torpedoes, they hunt like torpedoes, and they’re as dangerous as torpedoes! Barracudas glide through waters with both stealth and precision. And did I mention the sharp teeth?
These fish are incredibly cunning. Their particular silver shade makes them really hard to spot underwater, so they can surprise attack like a bullet. But as precise as they are, they have one particular problem: they’re unpredictable attackers.
Let’s say, you’re diving and snorkeling in some shallower waters. You know, just chilling. If your equipment has something shiny on it, be careful! They can mistake it for fish, and suddenly munch!
2. Tiger Shark
I’ve spoken plenty about tigers in general, but tiger sharks? They take the interest cake for me! These predators are total scavengers! They’re willing to chow down on just about anything that moves (or doesn’t).
They’re bold and brazen, and they sometimes swim up near shores to catch some sun. It’s like they don’t even care that they’re likely to cross paths with us humans!
The stripes are really cool though. You know the light scattering that happens on sea floors? They are supposed to make sharks blend into it!
3. Leopard Seal
In the icy cold waters of Antarctica, where most animals would freeze (and where I would catch a nasty cold), the leopard seal wins hunting competitions!
Their bodies are long and snake-like. And those sharp teeth? Ouch! Do you really expect this kind of animal to patiently wait for food to come to it? Oh no. They actively stalk their prey! Like a radar!
Even cute and fluffy penguins aren’t safe from their jaws. Leo seals will chase them down, catch them with their teeth, and shake them super hard until they’re ready to be devoured! Yikes!
4. Orca
Let’s just start like this – orcas are both beautiful and terrifying. And what’s more, they’re total masterminds. However, instead of spinning some evil plot in a secret underground lair, they plot hunting strategies while casually sunbathing.
Orcas love to hunt in teams. If you find yourself unlucky and surrounded by an orca gang, good luck to you buddy! Think you’re safe perched on an ice floe? I assure you, you’re really not.
They will make waves to knock you into the water, and then proceed to treat you like a stereotypical movie school bully gang. Orcas will terrorize you, except they won’t ask for lunch money. They will ask for lunch (you) instead.
5. Giant Squid
Big, scary, slimy cephalopod. This alien-looking creature hangs out in the darkest depths of the ocean. They’re rarely seen by human eyes, which makes them all the more mysterious! And scary. I understand all of Lovecraft’s phobias now! Eek!
They can be around 43 feet long, and if that doesn’t scare you, then the fact that their parrot-like beaks can deliver some really nasty bites should!
These squiggly sea monsters have been known to take on battles with sperm whales! Despite being smaller in comparison, they manage to leave quite the mark (literally!) with nasty sucker scars.
6. Great White Shark
Behold – the ruler of the oceans, the one who strikes terror into the hearts of even the bravest swimmers! They are sleek hunters with rows of serrated teeth. On top of that, blood-sensing abilities that make them scarier than any Vlad Dracula.
This shark loves to stalk prey, and wait just for the right moment to deliver the attack! They’re large, and they’re responsible for the largest number of yearly attacks on humans.
But let’s change perspectives a little, to raise awareness: each year, humans hunt about 100 million sharks, many of them great white ones. In comparison? These sharks take only 4-5 human lives a year on average. Shockingly unfair, isn’t it?