Curiosity Dives Deep

Photo from The New York Times

The ocean is vast, extremely vast. It accommodates so much life within its waters, such as colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, and so many aquatic animals, making it one large and lively ecosystem.

It covers 70 percent of the planet’s surface and contains roughly 97 percent of all water on Earth. That’s about 1.35 billion cubic kilometers or 324 million cubic miles of water. Approximately 20 percent of the ocean is explored, with more than 80 percent left unexplored. 

The ocean is expansive, yet many mysteries remain undiscovered. Many areas are untouched, and many species are unseen. 

Despite how vast the ocean is, there are still many to discover. Many could wonder about its terrains. What kinds of physical features does the ocean floor have? Does it have giant underwater mountains, wide plains, or deep canyons?

Some could wonder about its biology, about the life that dwells in the dark depths. What kind of creatures survive so many kilometers away from the surface? How did they adapt to their environment? What kinds of ecosystems exist beyond sunlight?

Or perhaps, others just wonder about what lies within the unreachable depths. What does the unknown have as a surprise once it gets known?

Yet the further you wander, the more difficult it gets. Sunlight is Earth’s natural source of vision. However, sunlight barely penetrates through the water the deeper you go. There will be no source of light left. Meaning that the depths have zero visibility, leaving you wandering in the dark with no idea where you are going. 

It is also described as cold, with extremely low temperatures, affecting materials. Requiring specialized designs to handle the temperature going down. 

And lastly, the weight of the water is crushing. The normal air pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level. In the ocean, however, the deeper you go, the more the pressure stacks, eventually reaching an intense level. 

Being able to go deeper means being able to withstand absolute darkness, low temperatures, and extreme underwater pressure. That is the reason for the difficulty of exploring the ocean. 

Though it is something so vast, it is still unexplored. What kinds of answers will the ocean present when it is slowly discovered? What kinds of life are there that are unobserved? 

Progress is made regardless, and with advancements in technology, discoveries in the ocean will follow. As curiosity dives deep, the ocean will be known more deeply. Slowly but surely, many questions will be answered. 

And that is the beauty of being curious. Though it may carry risks, difficulties, and challenges, learning more about the world is worth the shot. Because it not only satisfies one’s desire to learn, but also paves the way for future generations, giving them the necessary knowledge that the past brought to advance the future.