Shadowed

This image was taken on Boxing Day at Winchelsea Beach during a horizontal rainstorm. As well as being highly unpleasant to sunbathe in, Damian Carrington suggests that heavy rainfall may be affecting water quality at British beaches. One third of beaches fail water tests due to contamination from overflowing sewers and runoff from farmland and city streets. For his article in the Guardian, click here. 

Upon the Peak

This photograph was taken in St Lucia, in the Caribbean in 2005. St Lucia has dramatic mountains, tropical rainforest, hot mineral springs, pure white sand beaches and clear blue water. There are many beautiful holiday resorts here such as Coconut Bay, Jade Mountain, and Ti Kaye. 

Aquatic Desert

This incredible photo was taken off Vancouver Island on the West coast of North America. There are many tiny islands around Vancouver Island, and you can find schools of Orca Whales by travelling through the waters between the islands. The Orca, otherwise known as the Killer Whale, is a toothed whale belonging to the Aquatic Dolphin family. 

Seeking Tentacles

This stunning photo depicts a sea anenome, a water-dwelling predatory animal. Contrary to popular opinion the animal is named after the 'anenome' flower rather than the other way around. Sea anenomes are related to coral, jellyfish, hydra and tube-dwelling anenomes. 

Feathered Tangles

The sea is rich with all sorts of anemones, such as pictured here in Vancouver Aquarium, a nonprofit society dedicated to the conservation of sea life. It opened in 1956, and has been visited by 30 million people since that time. The aquarium was Canada's first and it developed a reputation as a modern response to changing conservation and aquatic protection needs.

Journey of the Sea

This photo was taken on Winchelsea Beach, East Susses, England. The ancient town of Winchelsea was a medieval village and ruins of the stone buildings still stand today atop the hill. Winchelsea beach has been a summer beach resort since the 1930s.

Salty Stone

This image was taken on Slapton Sands, Devon, a rare bar built up over time by Longshore Drift across the coast. Behind the bar is a ley, a saltwater lake with great importance due to its nature reserve which is home to many rare birds and insects.

Up the Swash

This picture shows the swashing of the sea onto the beach. There are two processes involved with this, swash and backwash. Swash is the process of water travelling up the sand or pebbles, and backwash is the return process. With this, sediment can be dropped off or picked up and carried away down the shoreline.

Bright Purity

This image was taken in Cannes in 2010 looking out onto the Cote D'Azure. Cannes is a located in the French Riviera,  is a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It has a Mediterranean climate as shown by the clear blue sea and tall vibrant palm trees. 

Lilac Dreams

This stunning image was taken in Sydney, Australia,in 2005. The amazing colors of the sky during sunset reflect onto the calm water and create a relaxing atmosphere. Imagine standing watching this scene this Valentine's day, and let romance take over!

Single File

This image was taken from the beach in Vancouver, BC Canada. The barges out in the bay are loggers, collecting the logs as they drift up from the river. You can see as you cross the bridges in Vancouver city, the hundreds of enormous logs, the length of grown trees, floating down the river in bunches. 

Tropical Calm

The water in this image is aquamarine green blue. This is because, despite water being colorless, large bodies of water like this ocean manifest water's inherent blue tinge from the depth of the water. The ocean here is relatively shallow, so the pale aquamarine color. The hue of the sky also adds to the perceived color of the sea.

Light of the Marsh

This stunning image was taken in Rye Harbor Nature Reserve, on the Southeastern coast of England. The large area of land is a mosaic of habitats beside the sea, with shingle, sand, rivers, grazing marsh and reedbeds. This photo was taken from inside one of the five hidden bird watching huts on the reserve.

Glittering Brine

This simple image shows the English Channel, or La Manche in French, on a foggy afternoon. Salt water is reputed to have all kinds of healing properties - sterilising wounds, improving the skin, relaxing the muscles, so it is beneficial to swim in the sea or ocean. In addition, homemade brine (tap water mixed with cooking salt) is very good for marinating chicken. 

Fading Peril

The dangerous precipice pictured here is caused by erosion from the sea below. The cliffs here, at Slapton, Devon, England, once had homes built on them which eventually crumbled into the water, most famously in 1917 when an entire fishing village slipped into the sea. Erosion continues to cause problems around Start Point.

Prince of Mist

This image was taken off the southern coast of England, across the water from the Isle of White. Sea mist occurs when cold air hits a warmer temperature in the sea, and can cause mystical scenes like this one. 

Pastel Pastures

This image was taken on a misty morning from a speeding train looking over at the Southern coast of Devon, England. This area has an interesting geographical point, Slapton Sands, a bar created by longshore drift over many years, and not all too common in English waters.