While around 70% of the planet’s surface is made up of water, and all of these places can be places of exquisite beauty, as a seafarer, you won’t need me to tell you that the water of our planet can be a very dangerous place. Most seafarers will have heard stories of people lost or injured while traversing the oceans and seas of our world, but the question on many people’s mind is which are the most dangerous.
Today, we’re going to explore some of the most dangerous seas there are, so you can either avoid going to them or take extra care while traveling them yourself. Let’s jump straight into it.
The Drake Passage – USA
Before the Panama Canal was created, seafarers would have to take the dreaded Drake Passage around the US, the area of ocean where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Pacific. The Drake Passage is infamous for being one of the most unpredictable seas in the world, where the weather can seemingly change at any time. The sea is also known for experiencing hurricanes, which registers over 12 on the scale!
Fukushima – Japan
After the tsunami that hit the Fukushima shores back in 2011, these Japanese waters have never been the same and still are as dangerous as ever. This is all due to the fact that the tsunami struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant located on the coast of Japan. Nowadays, the water is still radioactive from the event and remains dangerous for humans to be in.
As a side note, if you find yourself affected by an incident you experience in any of the waters on this list or throughout your own travels, you may be able to make a legal claim to compensate yourself. You can find maritime accident attorneys devoted to your case online.
The Great Blue Hole – Belize
While the Great Blue Hole is certainly a place of natural beauty, if you’re traveling across it, you’re going to want to be careful. The hole is actually a sinkhole, and it’s incredibly unstable, meaning parts of it can collapse at any time. What’s more, due to the nature of the hole, the current can change at any time, meaning any ships or people in the area can be drawn into the hole and can remain unable to escape without a lot of hard work.
The Southern Ocean – South of the World
Seeing as though most of the Southern Ocean that borders around the bottom of our planet are ice, it’s easy to see why this could be such a problem. With limited help options available and barely anyways out during the iciest times of the year, you’ll basically want to avoid this sea at all costs since any damage will leave you stranded and without help.
Summary
As you can see, there are some pretty extreme places out there for seafarers to travel to. With care and attention, accidents and problems traveling these seas can be minimized, so always keep your wits about you, and make sure you stay as safe as possible, both for your sake and the sake of your crewmates.