People Share Their Initial Reaction To Seeing The Ocean For The First Time

Children are the Bravest 

I was standing there with my ankles barely in the water wondering how all these little kids were just going right in and not terrified of the ocean.

u/saguarosally

When Taste Doesn't Live Up to Sight

I still remember the first time I saw the Atlantic, it was absolutely beautiful and I just had to try the ocean water, is it really salty?

Yes, it is. I won't do that again, either. But at least I know.

u/llcucf80

Tread Lightly

Waves are fu**ing strong.

I only swam in pools and lakes until my mid-20s so had no experience with anything bigger than maybe 1 or 2 -foot waves...

I went to the Pacific coast all excited to swim in the ocean and started to walk in when I got hit with a six foot wave.

u/I_might_be_a_troll

Flat Sliced Sky

It reminded me of the prairies. There aren't many places in Canada where you can see the true horizon, with no mountains or trees to block your view.

u/Umikaloo

Go Ahead, Nerd. Touch it.

All I could think was how terrifyingly awesome it was to look out on endless miles of water, roiling and crashing together. I felt like an ant as I stepped into the ocean for the first time.

Then I realized just how f***ing cold the water was.

u/Lexi_Banner

Snob

As a midwesterner, my impression of the Atlantic was "huh. Looks just like Lake Michigan."

u/littlelorax

A Profound Immensity

The world is beautiful, endless. I'd survived and I was free. The tears came later, then I just sat and stared.

u/[deleted]

That's a 9th Grade Word Right There

This sh*t is vast

u/DreCar

What Doesn't Come Through in the Movies

I never knew how it sounded. The simple, constant roar. Was pleasantly surprised at how hypnotic it was.

u/rastaforme

The Paranoid Approach

Sharks. As far as the eye can see, sharks.

u/floog