Ocean

by
Sophie Walker

Kael and Amara stand on the warm, golden sand. They look out at the sparkling blue water that stretches as far as they can see. “Did you know,” Amara asks, “that the ocean covers more than seventy percent of our planet? It is like a giant blue blanket wrapped around the Earth.” Kael nods in wonder. “There is a whole world hidden beneath those waves!”

Amara puts on her mask and dives under the water. She sees a bright, colorful coral reef. “Did you know that coral reefs are like busy underwater cities?” she thinks. These reefs are home to thousands of different types of fish. Even though they look like rocks or plants, corals are actually made up of tiny animals called polyps.

Kael swims further out and sees a massive shadow moving through the deep water. It is a Blue Whale! “Did you know the Blue Whale is the largest animal to ever live on Earth?” Kael remembers. A Blue Whale can be as long as three school buses, and its heart is the size of a small car. It is a gentle giant of the sea.

Near the swaying green seagrass, Amara finds a tiny creature. It is a seahorse, holding onto a blade of grass with its tail. “Did you know that seahorses have no teeth and no stomach?” Amara whispers. Because they have no stomach, they have to eat almost constantly to stay alive. They are very slow swimmers, but very fast eaters!

Kael watches a pile of rocks carefully. Suddenly, one of the rocks moves and turns bright red! It is an octopus. “Did you know an octopus has three hearts and blue blood?” Kael thinks. An octopus is very smart and can change its color and texture in a split second to hide from predators or sneak up on a snack.

To see the deepest part of the ocean, Amara and Kael climb into a small submarine. They descend into the “Midnight Zone,” where the sunlight cannot reach. “Did you know that it is pitch black down here?” Amara says. Many creatures here make their own light, a trick called bioluminescence, to find food and friends in the dark.

Kael spots a strange fish with a glowing “fishing rod” attached to its head. “Did you know this is an anglerfish?” he tells Amara. In the dark, other fish swim toward the light, thinking it is food. Then, the anglerfish uses its big mouth to catch them! It is one of the many strange ways animals have adapted to live in the deep.

As they return to the surface and walk along the shore, Amara and Kael see a plastic bottle floating in a tide pool. “Did you know that millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean every year?” Amara says sadly. Plastic can hurt the turtles, fish, and whales they saw today. They pick up the bottle to put it in a bin.

Back at their research station, Kael looks at a large map of the world. “Did you know that humans have explored less than ten percent of the deep ocean?” he asks. There are still so many mysteries to solve and new species to find. The ocean is the last great frontier on our planet, waiting for the next generation of explorers.

Amara waves to the sea as the sun begins to set. “The ocean is beautiful and full of life,” she says. “By learning about it, we can learn how to protect it.” Kael joins her, and they watch the waves roll in. The ocean is a magical place, and now you know some of its amazing secrets!