The ocean is an incredible place. It takes up the majority of our planet, yet there’s still so much we don’t know about it. But that means that there’s still plenty to explore and plenty to discover.

Bored Panda has scoured the internet to find photos of the most fascinating and unexpected things people have come across under the sea. From bizarre creatures to ancient artifacts, enjoy scrolling through these discoveries. And be sure to upvote the ones that inspire you to start exploring the ocean too!

#1 Bioluminescent Octopus Found In The Depths Of The North Atlantic Ocean

#2 Octopuses Feeds On Dead Whale Carcass In The Deep Sea

#3 A Pacific Stargazer Fish Buried In The Indo-Pacific Seabed, Lying In Wait With Only Its Eyes And Mouth Exposed To Ambush Prey

The ocean covers approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface. And according to the National Ocean Service, about 97% of the Earth’s water can be found in the ocean. While we don’t know exactly how many species currently live under the sea, it’s estimated that 91% of them have yet to be classified. Meanwhile, more than 80% of the ocean is still unmapped and unexplored.

Basically, we have no idea what’s hiding under there. When you go surfing in California or play in the waves in Hawaii, you might encounter some turtles, some fish, and lots of seaweed. Maybe even a jellyfish if you’re unlucky. But as we can see from the photos on this list, there are countless other objects and creatures waiting to be found.

#4 The Bow Of This Sunken Ship Looks Like A Undersea Monster

#5 Something That Has Rarely Been Seen And Documented, And Something I Am Ecstatic To Have Captured. Two Pale Octopus Mating At Rye, Victoria, Australia

#6 Discarded Rockets Of The Apollo 11 Voyage Found At The Bottom Of The Atlantic Ocean

Apparently, the ocean holds many mysteries. The BBC even published a list of some that scientists still haven’t been able to explain. The first being why orcas have been attacking great white sharks. These are two of the ocean’s most terrifying creatures, and apparently, they have some beef.

Great white sharks have been washing up on the shores of South Africa since 2017 with grisly injuries. Meanwhile, orcas have been spotted nearby at the same time. One of their attacks was even captured on camera in 2022 when both a drone and a helicopter pilot were flying over Mossel Bay.

#7 “Ghostly” Dumbo Octopus In The Deep Sea

#8 This

#9 The Hatchetfish, Found In The Depths Of The Mariana Trench In The Pacific Ocean

Another mystery about the ocean is where it came from in the first place. Scientists don’t really know why our planet is covered in water. Dr. Helena Bates, a postdoctoral researcher in meteorite science at the Natural History Museum in London, says there are two theories as to how this happened.

“The first thing is that Earth formed in a region of space where there was material like rocks and things like that, but also water in some form,” she told the BBC. “The second theory is that Earth formed in a region of space where it was too hot to have any kind of water. And the water that we have on Earth now was delivered post-formation by other bodies in the Solar System.”

#10 Another Weird Thing Found At The Bottom Of The Ocean

It Can Be Found In The Atlantic, Pacific And The Indian, Those Long Whisker Like Things Actually Help It Walk The Ocean Floor, It Can Be Found Around 878 To 4,720 M Or 2,881 To 15,486 Ft Deep

#11 What One Would Normally Find At The Bottom Of The Sea Floor; A Surprisingly Diverse Life

#12 What’s Down There

Something else at the bottom of the ocean that scientists haven’t been able to get to the bottom of is the Yonaguni Monument. This is a strange rock formation off the Japanese island of Yonaguni, which was discovered by a scuba diver in 1986. The monument has unique features such as a spiral “staircase,” etchings, and stacked sandstone blocks that make some wonder if it is the remains of an ancient civilization. Others say it’s naturally formed. But no one knows the truth (yet).

#13 Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

#14 Pyramids Off Cuba's Coast

#15 A Deep-Sea Yellow Brick Road

Another feature of the ocean that scientists haven’t cracked the code to just yet is the strange noises coming from underwater. One sound in particular, named “The Upsweep,” was first recorded in 1991 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is said to sound something like “a wail steadily rising in pitch.” And the sound appears to be coming from somewhere between New Zealand and South America. But no one has been able to determine exactly what’s causing it yet.

#16 Lophiiformes Collage

#17 Not The Most Completely Terrifying Thing In The Ocean, But I Saw One Of These Today And Thought Of You Guys

#18 Sea Anemones At The Tide Line On Vancouver Island, Canada

Now, if you’re feeling inspired to purchase some scuba gear and start exploring the ocean yourself, the world is your oyster. But the most important thing to keep in mind is safety. As incredible as the ocean is, it can also be extremely dangerous. So the American Red Cross recommends always swimming in a lifeguarded area. If you want to explore further out, make sure that you’re never alone, regardless of your swimming skills. And don’t push yourself physically.

#19 Deep Sea Eel

#20 The Bigfin Squid Seen In The Pacific Ocean

#21 Doll Found ~975m Below Sea Level

There are plenty of hazards that can come along with swimming in the ocean, such as unexpected weather changes, fast-moving currents and waves, and drop-offs that suddenly change the depth of the water. There can also be unexpected obstacles like rocks, debris, vegetation, and even marine animals, so it’s important to navigate through the water carefully, even if you’re on the lookout for mysterious treasures and creatures.

#22 Fish With Transparent Head Filmed | National Geographic

#23 Spiny Crab

#24 The Stargazer Fish

Is this list making you want to take a trip to the beach, pandas? Or is it giving you a newfound fear of the ocean? Keep upvoting the photos that you find most fascinating, and let us know in the comments below if you’ve ever uncovered anything unexpected in the ocean. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another article from Bored Panda featuring similar pics, look no further than right here!

#25 Giant Squid Ranheim

#26 Abandoned Submarine Base Somewhere In Greece

#27 At The Bottom Of The Mariana Trench, The Deepest Part Of The Entire Ocean, A Single-Use Plastic Bag Was Found Discarded At A Depth Of 35,754 Feet

It Was Discovered 28 Years Ago, On May 20th, 1998

#28 Can Someone Tell Me What Is This Thing. While Searching For Some Life Forms On The Deep Sea, I Found This Thing. Can Someone Please Explain Me What Is This?

#29 The World’s Oldest Submerged City

#30 Red Pencil Urchi

#31 Goblin Shark

#32 Chiasmodon Niger Specimen

#33 Frilled Shark Head

#34 Do You Guys Hate Whenever Somebody Or A Family Member Get Something Wrong About The Titanic Like Look At This Wreck I Showed This To My Mom She Said Is That The Titanic

#35 Shipwreck In The Red Sea

#36 Giant Antarctic Sea Spider

#37 Mako Shark Eaten By Something Huge Whilst Being Reeled In, Head Alone Weighed 100kg

#38 You Probably Shouldn't Swim In The Ocean At Night

#39 Ghost Shark Caught On Camera For The First Time | National Geographic

#40 Monkfish

#41 Nymphon-Leptocheles

#42 Chlamydoselachus Anguineus

#43 The Giant Isopod, Found In The Deep Seas And Is An Example Of Deep-Sea Gigantism

#44 Found This Squishy Thing At The Bottom Of The Ocean

#45 Found At The Bottom Of The Ocean !

#46 These Ocean Indentations Look Very Specific And Oddly Strange They Have A Lot Of Detail 36.708063530412076, -125.25211754721201

#47 Maritime Archaeologist Cathy Green Documents Artifacts At The Two Brothers Shipwreck Site At French Frigate Shoals

#48 An Ancient Analog Computer

#49 The Baltic Sea Anomaly 2017

#50 Valve On The James

#51 Apollo 11 Engines Recovered By Bezos Expeditions

#52 Pink See-Through Fantasia Sea Cucumber Found About A Mile And A Half Deep In The Celebes Sea In The Western Pacific (East Of Borneo)

#53 Eel With Mouth Like A Pelican

#54 Eye

#55 There Was This Huge Area Moving Around In Circles

I was in a boat far from shore at the Brazilian South Coast, close to a city called Florianopolis. Suddenly I looked to a point like “A MILE” away and I noticed something VERY STRANGE and DISTURBING happening: There was this HUGE area moving around in circles, very fast!!! It seemed that it could “suck us in” at any moment!!! Of course, we did not stay there to see if that would happen… and we hurried back to the coast. Until today, I don't know what I saw… if it was the beginning of a hurricane, a hidden Vulcano bellow water or something very big moving the water! Anyways it gives me nightmares until today…

#56 Just South Of Toulon. Heading For Cap D’agde, We’d Refuelled In Porquerolles And Were Off The Coast When This Started To Role In

The Mistral had been blowing in the Gulf of Toulon for several days (F10) and we holed up in Elba until it had calmed down. Apparently, in this part of the world, when the cold, wet, Mistral stops blowing from the North, it’s met by warm, dry equatorial air coming up from the South. When they meet, this is what forms. My first time ever sailing in that part of the world, this was entirely new to me, so to say it came as a surprise is a little understatement.The night passed in dense fog (we had no radar on-board), and was spent with 2 on watch, 15-minute radio calls giving away our position, dodging shipping coming out of Marseilles and rounding that corner of France, and watching the clock tick down to daylight. We tied up in Cap D’agde the following morning - yacht delivery complete.

#57 Mines Been On Every Dive I’ve Been On! Down To 40m

#58 This Is A Dried Up Sting Ray.. No Wonder NASA Went From Exploring The Oceans, To Trying To Make It Off The Planet

#59 Face-Hugger Found In Jar At London Natural History Museum

#60 Under Water Weirds Me Out

#61 The Deep Sea Siphonophore

#62 The Ocean Gets A Bit Weirder At Night

62 Fascinating Things That Were Hiding At The Bottom Of The Ocean