Why I Write About the Ocean: Blending Marine Science with Fantasy

1. Breathlessness

There are few experiences as humbling, and as captivating, as being smashed by the sea. I remember the first time a wave truly caught me. Not a gentle lift or stumble, but a full face-plant, dragged beneath the surface, ripped from my board and turned sideways in the dark, held just long enough for panic to flicker. My chest tightened. I didn’t know which way was up. And then, with a sudden rush, I broke through the surface, lungs burning, heart racing, the sky opened wide above me.

A surfer emerges from the ocean spray, silhouetted against the bright blue sky, capturing the thrill and intensity of the wave.

The sheer rush of adrenaline, everyone needs to experience it. That mix of awe and surrender, of fear and wonder, it’s the same feeling I get every time I enter the water. Whether diving through submerged forests, drifting over coral with a snorkel, gliding across the surface on a paddleboard, or chasing waves on a board, the ocean leaves me breathless in more ways than one. Every encounter is different. Every moment is alive. Every experience is full of lessons, and I’ve always loved to learn.

2. How Water Has Shaped Me, And Shapes Us All

My love for the water began with swimming. Those cold, early mornings when I’d drag Mum or Dad out of bed before the sun had even stirred. It was winter in the UK, and the deal was simple: they’d drive me to training, but only if I went out first and scraped the ice from the windscreen. I’d wrap up in layers, breath misting in the frozen air, chipping away at glass just for the chance to dive into a heated pool.

A swimmer glides powerfully through the water, perfectly silhouetted against the bright reflections on the surface of an indoor pool.

From pool lanes to family holidays by the sea, that early love of water deepened into something far more enduring. From exploring tide pools and surfing with my brother to studying Ocean Science and working in marine consultancy, each step revealed how little I knew, and how much more there was to learn. That journey eventually led me to pursue a PhD in marine ecotoxicology in Australia, a humbling reminder that the ocean is an endless source of discovery, always inviting us to look deeper.

But the influence of water isn’t unique to me. It shapes all of us, in ways we often don’t notice.

Whether you grew up near the coast, or similarly to me spent holidays by the sea, or simply feel a sense of calm near rivers, lakes or the ocean, water holds a universal power. There is something ancient and instinctive about our connection to it, something that speaks to a deeper part of us. The draw to the ocean doesn’t need to be taught, it’s felt. It teaches patience in its tides, clarity in its stillness, and humility in its depth. We learn to move with it, to respect it, to read its signs. We begin to understand that life doesn’t resist the flow, it follows it.

3. A Living, Breathing Muse

The ocean is a source of endless stories. It’s home to creatures with glowing skin, translucent limbs, and behaviours that defy expectation. There are fish that communicate through light, octopuses that vanish into coral with perfect camouflage, and parasites that rewrite their host’s biology.

A snorkeler gracefully glides through the clear turquoise water, captivated by a stingray swimming along the rippled sandy sea floor.

One such creature is Sacculina, a parasitic barnacle that infects crabs. It infiltrates their body, castrates them, and takes control, causing the crab to raise the parasite’s offspring as if they were its own. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s science.

These examples aren’t just fascinating, they’re fuel for the imagination. When science begins to blur the line with the fantastical, it opens a door to storytelling that feels both magical and grounded. That’s where fantasy thrives, in the space between what we know and what we can only wonder about.

4. Where Science and Story Meet

Fantasy and science are often seen as opposites, one rooted in fact, the other in imagination. But when it comes to the ocean, they’re deeply entwined. Marine environments are full of drama, beauty, and mystery. They offer a natural stage for storytelling.

Fantasy allows us to explore emotional truths through otherworldly lenses. When paired with real science, bioluminescent bacteria, ecological collapse, symbiotic relationships, it becomes a vehicle not just for wonder, but for education and empathy.

In the world of Archie Widemouth, the creatures and challenges may be imagined, but they are inspired by real marine ecosystems. The oceanic kingdoms, eclectic organisms, and submerged mountains are all rooted in the living, breathing sea.

5. Writing as a Way to Understand

Storytelling helps us make sense of the world. It allows us to explore difficult ideas, loss, fear, identity, growth, through the journeys of others. When we step into a character’s fins (or shoes), we begin to see the world differently.

Writing about the ocean through fantasy opens a space for reflection, on how we treat our environment, how we relate to one another, and how we understand ourselves. The sea becomes a metaphor as much as a setting, one that teaches humility, interconnectedness, and the importance of looking beneath the surface.

6. Stories That Spark Curiosity

One of the aims of my ocean-based storytelling, especially for younger readers, is to spark curiosity. To inspire questions like:

• Why does bioluminescence exist?

• What is a Frog Fish, and why is it camouflaged?

• How do different sea creatures adapt to extreme conditions?

My hope is that readers come for the fantasy, but leave with a sense of wonder, and maybe even a newfound respect for the real ocean.

Alongside the Archie Widemouth series, I’m also developing a collection of children's books that introduce these ideas in playful, meaningful ways, stories that celebrate marine creatures, explore habitats, and gently weave in environmental themes. Each story features unusual, often overlooked marine animals, those that don’t usually get the spotlight. Think of deep-sea oddities, tiny invertebrates, or creatures with bizarre adaptations that most people have never heard of.

I choose these animals not just because they’re fascinating, but because they remind us that every species, no matter how small or strange, plays a part in the ecosystem. These characters allow young readers to celebrate difference, embrace curiosity, and explore the idea that even the most unexpected creatures have value and stories worth telling.

7. An Ocean Invitation

Divers explore the depths of the ocean, surrounded by shimmering rays of sunlight filtering through the water's surface.

The ocean is one of the last great mysteries on Earth. It is wild, ancient, and alive with stories waiting to be told. Through fiction, we can bring those stories to the surface, not just to entertain, but to inspire awe and care for the world beneath the waves.

So whether you’re a scientist, a surfer, a reader, or a dreamer, if you’ve ever felt the pull of the ocean, this journey is for you.

Come explore it with me, one story at a time.