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The ocean means many things for us all. For me it is holidays, visiting family, Christmas in Australia, beach towels, boogie boards, surf, sandbars, river mouths, bridges, scuba diving, rays, seals, sharks, islands, fish and chips and tartare sauce. It's forests of kelp, ships on the horizon, and threads of human history. It is the wild, and it is a long, slow farm we don't know how to manage. It is salt. It is ground zero. It is commerce, container ships, ports, logistics, transport, and amphora. It is undersea cables, wet robots, giant platforms, and the arena of small and large wars. It is the weather, storms, rain, waves, and spray. It's a vertical wall of water drowning a ship. It's most of our planet. It is temperamental. It is deep, new, ancient, and permeable. It is where the atmosphere goes to rest. It is where the kaiju live. But the first thing I thought of when asked what the ocean means to me was its power - god-like and indifferent. The second thing I thought of was standing on the bottom edge Australia, in Albany W.A., looking south towards Antarctica, beyond sight, and imagining nothing but the 4,000 wide kilometres of deepening, cold, dark black-blue Southern Ocean between us and a continent of ice.

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The thing that fascinates me most about the ocean is how quickly and powerfully it changes, and how the methods we have now and those we used to have to try and predict and harness these changes

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The ocean is known for being cold, sometimes brutal and unforgiving, but for me, the ocean is a home, a powerful force harbouring some of the smallest creatures to inhabit our planet, as well as the largest. The oceans represent summer, the warmth of the sun glinting off cold waves on a pebble beach. It also represents the bitter winter, the icy North full of jagged blocks of floating snow. But most of all the ocean brings forth to my mind one word; life. Of all the creatures that inhabit it the ocean itself, the water is living, each breath a wave breaking on the shore.

Olivia Kolasinski

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For me seeing the marine life in their environment is both beautiful and also reminds me that we are the outsiders and we need to protect this important environment from our behaviour and not over exploit it as we have other areas of our precious planet.

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Mystery of the deep ocean and the creatures that live and have lived in it. 

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Mystery of the deep ocean and the creatures that live and have lived in it. 

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This image shows the beauty and complexity of a coral reef ecosystem. From the first time I snorkelled and then dived on a coral reef I was fascinated by them. Now as time goes on that fascination has turned to despair as actions by the human race threaten their survival.

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To me, the oceans represent infinite opportunities to explore, discover and learn. The boat in my opinion symbolises the insignificance of humans in comparison to the vastness of the oceans yet our natural endeavour in travelling as far as the horizon and beyond. No body ever knows quite what lies beneath that silky sheet, and that it what gives the oceans such liberating appeal.

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To me, oceans means a lot, I love them since I was little. I loved, the waves, fishes, and how the sun dives in it at the sunset.
But when I grew up I realised there was much more about it, all the marine animals I did not know it existed, and so much more I do not know about but I am looking forward to understand. Also, I amvery upset about all the garbage that ends up in the ocean, making it dangerous for those animals that live there. I hope I can learn about this beautiful part of the ocean.

This is a draw I did a few years ago. It is not the best, but I did it with a lot of dedication.

Sofía.

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The oceans are full of mystery, complexity and wonders. Humans are curious to know more and we admire creatures, such as the seal, yet we continue to damage their habitats with plastic.

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After taking the course I still feel that the Earth and the Deep Seas are wonderful and mysterious. It saddens me to hear that now we are able to access these previously unreachable areas of our deep oceans, that the main reason for it is so that we will be able to mine for minerals and other resources that humans need to continue to live on the planet. I hope that we continue to debate and question what and how we do this. We are stewards on the planet, not the owners.

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After taking the course I still feel that the Earth and the Deep Seas are wonderful and mysterious. It saddens me to hear that now we are able to access these previously unreachable areas of our deep oceans, that the main reason for it is so that we will be able to mine for minerals and other resources that humans need to continue to live on the planet. I hope that we continue to debate and question what and how we do this. We are stewards on the planet, not the owners.

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The ocean is a place we all know but we don't actually know. It is so important in our life the we depend on ocean directly or indirectly everyday. It has a huge amount of resources which we could't find yet. Minerals, animals, plants and many other things.
Ananthu P S

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The ocean supports some form of life in all of its places. It has strange creatures that have bioluminescence and some are just very weird. We know more about space than we do about our own oceans. I wanted to learn about oceans because they’re cool. My favorite parts are the twilight zone and the midnight zone because they have creatures that glow. (Transcribed and edited for spelling by Mom).

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the ocean means to me a lot of things but i know that sometimes the human can't explore all that he wants and many animals and species are unknown, that is the beautiful of ocean is bigger than us and always is a new surprice find another animal or fish and be closer of the bottom
-Arol Farid Miguel Tejada

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I was always interested in everything mysterious. Ocean is one of the most mysterious things in our world. It is not fully explored yet, and nobody knows what else will we find there. There were always a lot of legends, myths, stories about the ocean. I love it more and more as I learn something new about it. I really like those creatures living there. They're unique.

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The oceans to me are basically all about life. And the little I know about it.
Sometimes represented by beautiful creatures like this crocodile fish (look at the eyelash) sometimes frightening like a Tsunami or storm.
But there's nothing so close to our existence.

Jan van Vliet

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One of the most fantastic moments in my life when my husband and I were ocean kayaking and a mother whale, with her baby, surfaced right in front of it.  It was a magical moment and I will never forget it.
Carol S

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For the past few years the ocean has come to be my home, my teacher and my guidance. The point at which the colors of the sky intertwine with the ocean far in the distant horizon - represents to me the vastness of this universe. Large bodies of water such as this make me feel invincible. I think the ocean still holds many secrets far from reach by man.

Ugne Cerkesaite

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In Lisbon/Oeiras where Atlantic Ocean begins in a perfect harmony with Tejo river. I always inspire my self running near the ocean refreshing my mind.
Abel Gomes

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Joe Dempsey
The ocean is where life probably began - where all terrestrial material ends up- where tectonics are generated- where carbon dioxide is locked up. I t makes clouds for rain. It swishes and sways in harmony with the sun and moon and dances with the wind. It kisses the land. It soothes the soul. There is nothing bigger than this.

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This pic represente the oceans because on this four weeks I learned a lot of, and there are species than still we don´t know and there millions, I learn since the first adventure until the last technology, and wow, this is amazing, God created everything and believe  me than it is perfect, is other world.
-David Jimenez Jimenez

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With sustainable fisheries we can provide stable seafood supplies from a healthy ocean and encourage ibrant coastal communities

Robert McKibbin

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I leave this image that I like because since childhood we have told stories ¨monster¨ that live in the ocean which is still unknown, while we continue making images about this.
Jeniffer Diaz

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Endless possibilities if we take care of the ocean, it will take care of us.  I love the ocean - the smell of saltwater and seaweed, snorkeling and viewing wildlife, watching the waves.  Unfortunately, I live in Minnesota - thousands of miles from the ocean.  One can only dream.

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Endless possibilities if we take care of the ocean, it will take care of us.  I love the ocean - the smell of saltwater and seaweed, snorkeling and viewing wildlife, watching the waves.  Unfortunately, I live in Minnesota - thousands of miles from the ocean.  One can only dream.

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A world unexplored

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Blob fish

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Lionfish are an invasive species in the Caribbean and with no natural predators, they multiply at extreme rates, decimating reef species. This photo is from an environmental conservation trip I undertook to Belize, where we dived three times a day to spearfish the lionfish, before dissecting their stomach contents, compiling the information, filleting the fish and eating them for lunch. It is suspected that humans introduced lionfish to these waters and as such, it is our responsibility to remove them...but how much damage has already been done?
Leila

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My very young first exposure to deep beauty

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As I stared across the Pacific I thought next stop Japan (maybe) and what an amazing vast expanse of unknown (to me) and untapped resource. I do need to learn more
Liz McC

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Love to ocean swim..

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To me the ocean is a multitude of processes and organisms. They're seemingly simple when looked at in isolation, but beautifully complex and interconnected when looked at in relation to one another. The ocean is the best example of how everything on earth is connected and all life is interdependent.
The Pistol Shrimp and Goby are two species that rely on each other in order to survive. The shrimp provides a home and the Goby provides protection.
Abigail Harrison

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A complex and beautiful system we don't think about enough

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A complex and beautiful system we don't think about enough

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As well as learning about animals and aquatic life in the ocean, I love finding out about the ocean gyres which have such a huge influence on many different things.
Grace B

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Power

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Calming, fascinating and mind blowing.

Alex

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Our oceans mean peace and diversity; beauty and life

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Our oceans mean peace and diversity; beauty and life

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The Ocean to me is so much more than just water, I find it to be the most incredible diverse habitat on the planet. It is a place people should give their utmost respect to and to understand what it gives us as humans. I recently certified as an open water diver and cant wait to be able to explore the world of the deep blue. I still have a dream to study and work alongside whale sharks and to be able to work for a coral restoration organisation.

Helena Zepetes

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I recently learned to appreciate the ocean more, since I started diving. It's a fantastic world with an abundance of marvelous creatures. Every time again I get stunned by the beauty of the underwater world.
Els

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The ocean is our highway to go and explore. We live on our sailboat cause we were always most at ease near the ocean. In hopefully a year we want to set sail into the unknown.

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The ocean is nothing like one would see on land. weird, strange and different is the norm. It is a land under silver skies. The ocean requires to forget all common terrestrial sense and enter a three dimensional world of blue and rainbow tie dye.

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I live by the Ocean and it gives me a sense of peace, also the expanse of the ocean between me and France remind me just how small I am in comparison to the majesty of nature
Paul Kensett

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I have always been fascinated and intrigued by the ocean, studying the deep and reefs in particular, but a couple of years ago I really realised for the first time the effect humans are having on these environments. The Great Barrier Reef to me is the pinnacle of the ocean and the fact that it is being rapidly destroyed made me want to study the oceans in general to better understand what is being done and how this can be prevented.

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Give me a snorkel & mask, place me in a sea, an ocean even a large rockpool, and I am home. To me the oceans are beauty, wonder (known & yet to be discovered) and life. Ecosystems to be explored, understood and treated with respect, from the smallest plankton to the largest whale. From shallow reefs to deep ocean trenches and all in-between.....and I love underwater volcanoes (haven't seen any in real life.....yet!
Jooj duQ
Photo is seaweeds in shallow seas off Jersey.

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This is an image of a whale taken in Dominica. Whilst I love marine cetaceans (and all animals) it is important to recognise and respect the interdependence of all creatures and the planet. Helping humans to help the planet is an absolute must so we protect these delicate marine habitats.

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I spend quite bit of time by the sea and coastline and some time on it. It's forever changing, powerful, sometimes calming, gentle almost benign but always to be respected . It inspires and connects us to much more primeval side. The tide in Hoy can run up to 13 knots at spring tide , seals and occasionally otters fish in the currents and amongst the kelp and ancient stromatolites can be seen in a few rocks, old bedding planes, limpets, welks sandstone layers and sadly too plastic detritus. The seas and oceans of our blue planet are so important, such a part of our existence, awe inspiring and vital. Programmes from the early days of Cousteu to Blue Planet show us some of the amazing discoveries and new understanding. Yet we have managed to degrade
and damage some of the most remote parts from the deepest trenches to ice caps. We need to remember our interdependence and try  to put knowledge into action to help safeguard and mitigate this .
Annie Masson

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The ocean represents Life. It is complex, beautiful, powerful yet calming and needs to be protected
Nathalie B

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Whenever I hear or see  something to do with the oceans it brings back to me one of my earliest dives in the Indian ocean when I saw the beautiful, other-wordly manta ray, 'flying' through the water, for the first time.  The ocean means many other things to me but it is this glorious marine creature, and it's well being, that I think of first.
Hilary

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The ocean is integral to life. One moment calm and another exciting but always beautiful. We are slowly unveiling its mysteries and should use the knowledge to protect today and preserve for the future of the planet .
Vivienne K

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The ocean is power.  Life.  Death.  Our ancestral mother about whom we know so little and for whom we do not care enough.  It is the great leveller.
Susan Dippel

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To me, the deep sea is extremely interesting because of the numerous species that most people will never see or even hear about, but which still exist, even though they may look like something out of a horror movie. I am extremely interested in taxonomy, and I have always loved reading about the expeditions and journeys through our natural world that explorers like Darwin or Linneaus have been on. As a recent biology graduate, I have found that funding of projects not connected to commercial species is rare, and consequently very little is known about inacessible places like the deep sea. Shown here is some of the odd-looking creatures (anglerfish) that I hope to learn more about during this course, possessing cool features such as an extreme level of sexual dimorphism.
By Mads Reinholdt