Let’s Talk Deep: Surprising Facts About The Ocean

There’s no better vacation than going to the beach with your friends and family. The gentle sea breeze rustling into your ear and the rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean tides—it’s all just so relaxing.

But did you know that more than 80 percent of our oceans remain undiscovered? Yep. There’s so much more to them than what meets the eye. The secrets of our oceans are vast and buried deep inside them—we’re here to give you a little taste of what you don’t know.

Here are some mindboggling facts about our oceans.

1. Oceans are home to most of our world’s living species

All the avian, mammalian, and reptilian species on land comprise a mere 5 to 6 percent of all life on earth. Experts believe nearly 94 percent of all living creatures can be found inside our oceans.

2. Oceans have gold reserves

In this case, all that glitters is in fact gold. Scientists believe there is about 20 million tons of gold present in seawater. However, before you rush to your nearest beach with a diving suit, be warned that this gold is incredibly diluted because its particles exist as mineral content. It’s also very difficult to excavate it.

3. You can drink sea ice

Seawater is too salty to be safely consumed by humans, but you can still drink its frozen version. Basically, the trick is to let the ice age, since its saltiness drains away with time. Then, you can melt it and drink it up. So no, this won’t work with fresh seawater. This method was often used by sailors and explorers who went on voyages up north and ran short of drinking water.

4. Corals can make their own sunscreen

Coral reefs are masters of self-protection. Lots of direct sunlight can harm the algae living inside them. That’s bad, because algae serve as the primary source of food for corals. So to protect the algae from dying, corals create a natural protein that shields the algae from the sun. That’s pretty cool if you ask us.

5. Ocean plants provide most of our oxygen supply

When we think of the oxygen and carbon dioxide content in the air, we often think of the trees in the Amazon. Scientists believe that rainforests provide about 20 percent of all our oxygen—but where does the remaining 80 percent stem from? You guessed it. The ocean is home to numerous tiny plants called phytoplankton. These plants contribute a little over 70 percent of the earth’s oxygen!

With all these benefits to the ocean, it’s imperative that we take steps to protect this vital ecosystem. If you want tosave the ocean, how about you do it in style?Buy ocean-themed shirts andbags from us and contribute 10 percent of your purchases to ocean conservation charities.

Visit The Ocean Vibe’swebsite for more information on how you can help.