Ocean symbols convey peace and relaxation. They are beneficial symbols for those who want to feel the calming ocean breeze no matter where they are located. There are many ocean meanings and symbols that represent the ocean that you may be interested in.
Ocean Symbolism
General ocean symbolism is connected to the way the ocean makes us feel. This is different for each individual and may be influenced by your experience with the ocean. Though in most cases, your feelings toward the ocean fall into one or more of a specific set of categories.
Chaos
- Power
- Strength
- Violence
Oceans represent chaos. They are strong and powerful forces that can go from 0 to 100 in seconds. Even on the shore, one can witness the pure power of the ocean when the tide is high.
Calm
- Tranquility
- Serenity
- Peace
To oppose the chaos that the ocean represents, it also carries a calmness. This is something that many people utilize in ocean symbols because it can bring them the peace and serenity that the ocean can carry.
Vastness
The ocean is large and vast, covering most of the earth and going deeper than most can imagine. This vastness is humbling because it helps us imagine just how small we are compared to the ocean, the Earth, and the universe.
Unknown/Mystery
The ocean has a mysterious quality to it. A shocking fact is that humans have only explored about 5 to 10 percent of the ocean. Even with today’s technology and efforts made, the ocean is still unknown, likely containing plants and animals no human has ever seen.
Emotion
- Anger
- Joy
- Despair
- Fear
The ocean is full of emotions. It represents the passion one might feel when expressing their emotions or their inability to express their emotions, causing waves of repressed emotions to be bottled up inside.
Freedom
The ocean can also represent freedom. It symbolizes the human desire to be free in every sense. This is something we are born with and will always strive for, to be as free as the ocean.
Which Color Symbolizes the Sea?
Blue is the color of the sea. It represents the ocean from the shallow seafoam shores to the deep blue seen on the sea floor. The color blue also represents many things that the ocean represents, such as freedom, inspiration, and depth.
Plant Symbols of the Sea
- Seaweed – from kelp to sargassum, seaweed is a common, sometimes tasty ocean plant that can only grow underwater
- Algae – plankton and red algae are two common types of ocean plants that represent the importance of every being, no matter how small
- Common Seagrass – another crucial part of ocean ecosystems, with ocean plants like them providing 70% of the earth’s oxygen
Tree That Symbolizes the Sea
Palm trees are the trees that symbolize the sea. They are connected to the beach and represent many of the same things that the ocean does, such as calmness and freedom.
However, palm trees do not grow directly in the sea. The only tree that can grow in saltwater is the mangrove. The twisty saltwater trees represent strength, adaptability, and enlightenment that allow us to live in the spiritual and physical world.
Animal Ocean Symbols
- Dolphin – a popular sea animal that represents human connection, grace, and intelligence
- Shark – a symbol of power, often seen as king of the ocean
- Coral – sometimes believed to be a plant, this animal has ties to ancient Greece
- Sea Turtle – represent longevity, calmness, and determination
- Jellyfish – a unique and graceful creature that represents transparency
Ocean Symbolism in Literature
In literature, the ocean often symbolizes the emotions of a specific character. This could be the protagonist or, quite often, the antagonist.
The ocean can also symbolize Mother Nature and her power over humanity. This can be connected to danger, natural opportunity, and the fragility of life.
Two of the most notorious writers of ocean tales are Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad. Melville wrote Moby Dick, while Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness.
Moby Dick speaks of the grand ocean, which represents the unknown and how one can explore it without getting lost in pure depth. Conrad writes about the ocean as a place of freedom and fear that sailors are called to.
10 Ocean Symbols
1. Whirlpool
Whirlpools are strong ocean symbols. They represent the depth and darkness of the ocean and how powerful it can be. Many mythological gods can create these whirlpools to use as weapons of destruction.
2. Waves
Waves are symbols of the ocean that represent violence and power. They are unpredictable and are a good representation of strong emotions.
3. Sea Salt
Sea salt is a natural sodium occurring in the ocean. Salt represents loyalty, purification, and steadiness. Those who are the salt of the earth deal with things in a peaceful and logical way.
4. Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger is a traditional ocean pirate symbol. Though it has dark origins, it can also be used to represent a type of rebellion to fight against the system.
5. Seashell
Seashells are ocean symbols popular amongst spiritualists and materialists alike. They are the glory of the sea, representing grace, beauty, and elegance. Like snowflakes, no two seashells are alike, giving them even deeper meaning.
6. Shipwreck
While ships can represent the ocean, it is a shipwreck that represents the power of the ocean. While humans caused some sunken shipwrecks, most of them were caused by the ocean itself.
7. Trench
Ocean trenches are long and narrow canals on the ocean floor. They can be thousands of feet deep, with the most famous, the Mariana Trench, being 7 miles deep.
8. Abyss
The abyss is a term for the bottom of the ocean, over 3000 meters below sea level. It’s also the term for a point of no return that no one can survive.
9. Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary lost city not many believe in. The fictional city was said to have sunk many years ago when gods became angry at the people who were immoral.
10. Trident
The Trident is an ocean symbol for mythological sea kings. From Nepture to Poseidon, many Greek and Roman gods wield tridents that they can use as a conduit for their powers.