The Ocean & The Blue Mind

why the ocean can heal

Introduction

Growing up oceanside, I have always subscribed to the power of the Ocean. Whether it is walking its shores, surfing its waves, or diving deep under it, I have never needed any convincing that being around, above or under the sea is uplifting.

I have recently experienced sustained months of trauma and grief. Fortunately half-way through this period I returned back to living by the sea. Ocean dips were no longer something I did when I had time - they became an important daily tool for survival. 

I have always wanted to know more about the science behind it, but now that I have experienced the power of its restorative energy, I believe that by understanding it, it may unlock other avenues for healing.

I am only at the very beginning of my understanding, and touching the surface of the science behind the power of the ocean has provided me with tonnes of further topics to unpack. After learning about the Blue State Mind, I think it is the perfect topic to start my enquiry about why the Ocean is my spiritual ground, and why it offers me healing.

photo credit : lee considine @benandleecondisinesurfcoaching

How Ocean Dips are Healing Me

Cool or cold water therapy has been a consistent and quiet achiever of wellness, and has always been, and always will be something we do to “feel better”.

Cold water therapy means different things to different people, in different places because you can get it from literally any body of water. But for me, it is immersing myself in the ocean or river mouth. The water gives me an immediate physical pep, and the horizon beyond gives me a sense of belonging to a world that is much bigger than my own.

The power that cool ocean water yields on heightened nervous systems is not a new phenomenon to me. Growing up on one of the most beautiful coastlines meant I have enjoyed the benefits of the ocean my entire life. I am so connected to the Ocean that when I live away from the coast (any ocean will usually do!) I always felt that a piece of me is missing somewhere.

Lately my daily ocean therapy has not just been something to enjoy, it has been a survival mechanism. Whilst not having energy for my love of long-boarding, my daily dips (sometimes 2 or 3)  have enabled me to get through hours and days of deep grief and trauma.

This personal experience has led me to want to know much more about the phenomenal power that an ocean dip can wield. After starting my personal research I am excited about how much more there is to unpack, so this is my “101”.

Please note, the article does not have endnotes or a bibliography, but I have put links to a couple of very important books that you can find in my Blue Mind Booklist HERE.

The Nervous System and Cold Water

The vagus nerve is the key pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system - the one that helps regulate heart rate, reduce inflammation and shift the body to a calmer state.  Water immersion has been shown to stimulate the vagus nerve which in turn helps regulate your heart rate and mood.

Repeated cold exposure has been associated with improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression. There is a lot more I need to learn in scientific terms, but I can personally vouch for the capacity of a daily cool ocean dip as an aid to mental and emotional survival.

At this time of year, during the south-eastern Victorian summer I do not have to catch my breath when I dive into the ocean. But I do need to breathe deliberately when swimming. Either when I need to swim, or when colder water catches my breath, something resets. I have to stay present in the moment, and my body cannot spiral and respond to this need at the same time.

Basically, the ocean, particularly when it is cold,  is forcing regulation.

Blue Space: Why Water Changes the Mind

I have only just found the work of Wallace J Nichols, late Marine Biologist and author of the “Blue Mind” - a book written about the science behind  “blue space” environments dominated by water and the science behind the medicinal potency of being near, in or under water.

In Blue Mind Nichols explains our two states of the Red Mind and the Blue Mind. I am fascinated by this concept alone and cannot wait to learn more. Nichols explores how water can move us from the “Red Mind” that the majority of us live in, to the “Blue Mind” which is where the majority of us long to be: 

The Red Mind is dominated by:

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Overstimulation

• Hypervigilance

• Mental Fatigue

• Urban Overload

Red Mind is sympathetic nervous system dominance.

Blue Mind on the other hand includes a state of:

• Calm

• Clarity

• Creativity

• Connection

• Awe

• Gentle Focus

Blue Mind is parasympathetic activation.

Nichols describes the “Blue Mind” as a mildly meditative state triggered by water exposure. The Neurological effects are:

• Reduced activity in the brain’s stress centers (amygdala)

• Increased dopamine (pleasure) and serotonin (well-being)

• Lower Cortisol (stress hormone)

• Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”)

Water shifts us out of “Red Mind” (overstimulated, anxious, urban flight-or-fight mode into a calmer, more expansive mental state.

Why does the Colour Blue Matter?

Visual and Sensory Effects:

The human brain processes blue wave lengths as calming. Blue is associated with openness and distance (sky and sea) which triggers feelings of safety and space. Studies show that blue environments lower heart rate and blood pressure. 

I always feel like just walking along the ocean shores restores me somewhat. It is the horizon line of water that gives my brain something simple and stable to focus on which apparently reduces cognitive load. (There is something else magic at work which I will explore later).

Attention Restoration and Soft Fascination

Here is another topic that I am completely fascinated by and will be posting a lot more about, but in regards to the Blue Mind, water environments stimulate attention restoration - Gentle Waves, light reflections, ripples and repetitive natural sounds allow the prefrontal cortex to rest, improving creativity, problem solving, focus and emotional regulation. Perfect for overstimulated brains.

Right here I am thinking “Far out, no wonder my ADHD brain has ALWAYS loved the ocean!”

Awe and Perspective Shift - The impact of Water on our Default Mode Network

During an intense period of trauma I have experienced the negative impact that rumination has on one’s self-esteem and “personal forecast”. Going over and over what could have been, what worse scenarios are in store, what I could have done differently to prevent the losses I have experienced,  why things should have turned out differently etc etc.

Rumination during trauma is likely a big factor in declining mental health and suicidal thoughts - it is insidious and without psychological intervention,  very difficult to control.

Harmful rumination is caused by self-referential thoughts and autobiographical memory processing that occurs when your brains’ Default Mode Network is active. (There is so much to unpack right there!) In a nutshell, the Default Mode Network is a group of brain regions responsible for self-related processing, and whilst this is probably designed as a tool for positive self-regulation, it can not recognise good from bad when we are experiencing trauma or PTSD. 

Large bodies of water trigger awe, which research links to reduced rumination. They also increase feelings of generosity, decreased focus on ego and improved life satisfaction. Being around a large body of water reduces activity in the brain’s default mode network 

It is known that large bodies of water trigger AWE in our brain, which links to reducing activity in the brain’s default mode network. The whole concept of Awe is where my healing journey has started, so there is obviously a lot more I want to say about this, but for now, just knowing that there is science behind why the ocean provides some relief via neurological functions is quite amazing.

Negative Ions and Rhythmic Regulation

Last summer whilst swimming in the ocean with friends, we laughed about how many times we reference those “refreshing negative ions” but really do not have a clue about what they actually mean.

This is again a topic I am keen to explore in a lot more depth, but some research has suggested that waves, waterfalls or surf releases negative air ions which can increase oxygen flow to the brain, therefore improving mood and reducing depressive symptoms.

The sound or movement of waves also creates predictable rhythms which can encourage slower breathing, heart rate variability and nervous system regulation. Heart rate variability is the capacity for your heart to recover so a high HRV is linked to increased resilience. (This is why ocean sounds are often found in meditative music for sleep therapy).

All worthy outcomes if you ask me!

Physical Relief

Being in water reduces the gravitational load on joints, increases blood circulation and triggers tactile sensory input into the skin. Immersion activates the vagus nerve, which has calming and regulating effects.

Awe - Why I feel healing in the ocean

Nichols references the activation of AWE, and the mere mention of it jumped out at me.

I realised that one of the most signifiant defining experiences that I get each and everytime I am near, above, below or in a body of water is a sense of Awe.

There is ALWAYS something that I notice that elevates me. Whether it is the life underneath, the way the tides are moving, the rip between the surfable waves, the kelp that washes up on the shore - no matter what, there is always something to that amazes me.

The physical relief, and its emotional effect on regulating my mood is the benefit that I am in AWE of every single time I dip in the ocean.

I am in AWE of the fact that I am held up by the water where the only effort required is letting go mentally.

I am in AWE that for those minutes, my mind appreciates the pause, and realises I am part of a world that is much bigger than me. 

It is the AWE that helps me appreciate the moment.

So when I ocean dip, AWE becomes much more than a fleeting emotion - it is a mechanism for healing.

So much more to learn!

If you are also interested in this journey, or topics related to the Ocean and Water, I have a Blue State Booklist HERE that you might like.

Written on the 27th of February 2026.