What comes to mind when you think of the sea?

[zan]

I've been having a fairly slow day at work and I started wondering how people in the UK view the sea around our shores. What springs to mind when you think of the British coast? And what do you picture living below the surface?

[moo]

Currently, when I think about the sea, sewage pollution and benthic macroinvertebrate community structure are quite high on the list. But that's cos I'm trying to write a college report on it and am drowning under a small inland waterbody of statistics.
Normally it'd be the look of horror on my dog's face when she was a pup and saw a wave for the first time - on Aberysywth beach, I think. She then spent the next hour trying to catch one and when that failed she started harrasing jellyfish.

[tufftie]

I know this isn't what you mean Zan but for me it's total relaxation - when I lived in Cornwall the tides were part of me, can't really explain it, was tied up with its rhythms but that's not really it either...

On the other side - the UK coast is really interesting - so diverse and ever changing and so full of life.

Living beneath it - while i'd definitely have a fascination about it i think i'd miss the space around me to much to want to. I also think that we're making such a mess on the surface of this planet that to start doing it below the waves as well would be crazy.

[naturelover]

i know the sea is swallowing our british coast,i remember as a child how our family went to walton on the naze every year,you could sit in the sand and have grass covered hills behind you quite safe,now its a concrete jungle shame,as for under the sea i would say beauty.

[zan]

ah benthic macroinvertebrate communities! I know them well

I spend a lot on time on or in the sea, and I find it fascinating. The waters we have around the UK are, to me at least, easily as diverse and colourful (and sometimes as clear) as in the tropics. A big part of why I got into underwater photography is because I would love to be able to show people what we have here and maybe help them appreciate it.

It's such a 'through the looking glass' type experience though, it's hard to convey that to people who haven't seen it for themselves...

As for emotions, I've probably run through the entire range with the sea from sheer pleasure to being sick as a dog!

[tufftie]

Sorry Just realised misread part of the original question...been reading too much fantasy and things! Following on from my last thoughts a bit - Dr Who and those underwater monsters...what were they called?!

Depends how clear the water is but all sorts of things and feelings from beauty and tranquillity to sheer brutality in other cases. From kelp beds forests with sun shining through like a woodland glade to seeing hermit crabs in Cornwall and the strangeness of an underwater cave..maybe I better stop or you'll end up with a poem - lol!

[kml]

Having grown up by the sea the first thing that comes to mind is the noise of the waves hitting the shore.We live in the south and the beaches here are nothing special, my favourite coastal lines are in Cornwall and Wales with dramatic cliffs and scenery around,the marine life is more varried there and it`s not uncommon to have seals and dolphins in the water.I can imagine it all now wish the weather was a bit better so I could get the kayak out rolleyes:.

[Stewy]

Bass.................

(and Mackerel)

[RichBrew]

Thinking of the sea conjures up images of the Jurassic coastline of Dorset for me, and Kimmeridge bay in particular. It's only a forty minute drive for me to be at these spectacular locations, and when the tide and light comes together it's a seascape photographers paradise.

RichBrew

[epops]

standing on the beach at felixstowe at night in the summer catching or not as the case maybe all those sole

[zan]

cool, thanks for replying. What about below the waves though? Do you picture bright kelp forests or murky, sandy expanses? And how much do you know about your local coastline? I'm guessing most people on here could point out locally important habitats on land - could you do the same for the sea?

[tufftie]

Round here the cliffs are eroding all the time - they're chalk so guess things are kind of going in a circle. Then there's the area around Cuckmere Haven which hopefully will be allowed to become a saltmarsh, though there is opposition to this from a guy in a nearby holiday home. The alternative is huge, ugly flood defences, which wont be good for wildlife let alone aesthetics. Saltmarshes are important habitats and hopefully Cuckmere will be allowed to become one.

[kml]

That is a great question.Sea horses were first found in british water on the dorset coast since then they have been seen around brighton.Lyme bay is of scientific special interest but this is widely known.I don`t think there have been many other interesting sightings around the south but I will probably be proved wrong.Some areas do need the same protection thats given to land,it`s great to make more people aware.

[Dutchess]

When I first read the question, my instant reaction was the noise of the waves hitting the shore. (Exactly the same as you, kml). Btw, I live in a fishing town, a mile from the seashore and can see the sea (just!) from my house on the hill.

As for living beneath it.....being a water sign (Scorp at that) I suppose it strikes me in a fantasy way as idyllic.....cool, dark, calm and quiet. A far cry from the crashing noise and chaos created by the waves; an escape from the hubbub of the world above.

Hey, I am far from being romantic about this, in no way whatsoever is la mer merciful...wow - what a leveller she is! I have been in situations which have made me realise we are all the same in her eyes I come from a naval/seafaring background but give me dry land anytime, although I always like to know where my nearest water source is (preferably close to the sea) and my favourite room in the house is - the bathroom!!

Interesting thread

D.

[WildJanet]

To me; It's calming,soothing,relaxing, & sounds wonderfull. Great to swim & just paddle,love investingating the Rock pools & it makes Famlies happy on their hols to watch the kids having fun.I also love watching the Boats. I'm also very aware of the Dangers of a Rough sea too as I've watched many a Fishing boat being thrown about by the waves like a toy & it's frightning.As for under the sea. Well a world of total Facination for me & full of wonderfull creatures.
I live by the Sea & have a great view from my window. it's the first thing i see when I wake up & Sit up in bed & the last thing i see before I lie down to sleep.it's just Beautifull to me no matter what the weather & I also watch the moons silver shadow over the Sea Too; It's gorgious & of course this time of year; I get to see the Sunrise over the Horizon.

[zan]

thanks for all your replies, it's really interesting to hear your views. I notice that most of you think of the surface (waves, beaches, saltmarshes) and I think this is the biggest challenge when it comes to marine protection. People can very easily see damage to land habitats, but not in the sea. I think if more people saw the damage caused by e.g. trawlers, oil drilling platforms etc the marine bill (or similar) would have been passed a long time ago.

So the next question I have is how do you think this could be changed? It's obviously impractical to take everyone diving all round the coast (also a pretty quick way of ruining it!), but do you think video\photographs are enough? Aquariums are a step, but they're so far removed from the real places I'm not sure if people really make the connection back to their own bit of the coast...

[coasty]

Just picked up on this thread...

The sea quite simply makes me think of Home, I was born near it and have spent most of my years living near it... I can hear it on a night and love the smell of it...

Walking down by the sea when a big North east wind is blowing and you can hear and sea the waves tearing at the sea wall. The fascination of walking along the beach after a storm and looking at the flotsam washed up..

Most of all looking at the sea at the mouth of the river and wondering if tonight is the night that the children of the tide swim in..(sea trout ) to the non romantics among you...

Anyway at this moment in time wondering what time the tide is out tomorrow for my walk on the beach with the dog....

[tufftie]

I guess the simple answer has got to be more public awareness...so more media coverage, in whatever form that may take and one that would be viewed by a bigger audience than nature lovers (not sure what that would be at the moment though).

Isn't there a problem with dredging for sand and shingle around the coast too - in the English Channel?

[GerryNick2]

Always used to think as the coast as a place for kids, buckets and spades, Ice cream etc.

Watching programs like Coast on the TV has given me a greater awareness of the beauty of our coastline and just how much there is to explore.

No more overseas holidays and long waits at airports for us now, the last two years we have spent our summer holiday exploring the Pembrokeshire coast and booked again this year for a return visit. Fantastic scenery and wild life, beats crowded Spanish beaches any time.

Gerry

[zan]

Tuftie: I hadn't heard of dredging for sand\silt, but then I'm really far away from the south coast! It wouldn't surprise me though.

It's a difficult thing to address I think, but scientists have a lot to answer for as well. Marine biology (and most other science) gets virtually no press unless it's controversial news. In the states, a part of the funding for any project includes a chunk that must be spent on publicity (tv, press releases etc) to keep the public up to speed. It would be nice to see that happen in this country, especially because there's some phenomenally interesting stuff happening!

[moo]

I've always been put off the marine side of aquatic ecology because it all seemed to be aimed at what might, on land, be called the "fluffy bunny brigade" - large cetaceans getting all the attention and "fish stocks" being a generic term unrelated to actual living creatures.
I've been shoved into doing more marine stuff as part of a college course and it is considerably more interesting than I thought: and I can't believe how little is known about nutrient cycling, plankton etc - even the basic structure of the waterbody regarding salinity, stratification etc - it's amazing how little information is out there, particularly considering the number of individuals, industries etc who rely on it.

[juliejam]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Bass.................

(and Mackerel)

Im with you on this one Stewy.....Bass ...Bass and more Bass...


Julie

[Garden Carpet]

When I think of the sea I think of the clear turquoise waters around Guernsey. I lived there for half my life.. and it is the only thing I miss about the place. I love the many moods of the sea.. from gently lapping waves to thirty foot monsters smashing stones the size of tennis balls across the road.

Under it... I have never been a great one for what is in the water... hate seaweed wrapping itself around me when I swam!! Other than that.. dont like to think... I mean.. what do fish do in it !!!!

A walk on the beach with the dog when there is a storm brewing was really great for me... black clouds, buffeting winds and hissing seas!

Jaki

[zan]

I agree Moo, but I think that's part of what makes it so exciting I've never liked mammal research much because it seems too cliched! important, but just a tiny tiny part of the whole.

what I always found surprising was the number of marine \ aquatic biologists who had no interest in scuba diving. I would have thought most people would surely want to see for themselves what's really down there? I appreciate it really won't appeal to a few folk, but I've always thought it was odd. Maybe people assume it'll be as grey and featureless as the surface and don't bother looking? I still find it surprising how brightly coloured my underwater photos are compared to the above-water ones

have a look at the UW photos on my website (link below) or the ones that I've uploaded to the wab gallery so far. Does that meet your expectations of the British coast?

[kml]

Stunning photo`s Zan.How far out/deep did you go? Opologies if I seem a bit airy fairy in my replys,I do understand the danger that the sea poses.It`s not only sea mammals that interest me,we have seen some amazing things whilst snorkelling.There are many incredible creatures below the surface.To get to the coast near us (20 miles) when the weather is good we have sat in traffic for 3 hours and still only travelled 10 miles!!For us it is easier to go 80 miles to the coast rather than our local beaches.