How the Ocean Helps Our Brains Feel Better
By Abi Lezama
Have you ever noticed feeling calmer when you are at the beach? Maybe it is the sound of the waves, maybe it is the sight of the water. I have always felt better around the ocean and I wanted to learn why that is. It turns out scientists have discovered that being around water, or blue space, can lower stress, improve our mood, help us deal with pain, and so much more. This means our positive reaction to the ocean is not just a personal feeling, it is something many human beings respond well to.
What Science Says About the Ocean and Mental Health
Spending time in nature is known to support mental health, but blue spaces seem to have special benefits. The BlueHealth Project found that people who live near water reported lower psychological distress and were happier than people who did not live near water. Simply seeing or hearing water can calm our minds and provide mental clarity. Scientists have discovered that blue spaces can help reduce stressors and the sound of water has been found to increase positive emotions as well as alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation. Combining sight, sound, and fresh air becomes a full sensory experience that supports mental well-being.
Researchers have also looked at how swimming affects young people who are experiencing mental health challenges. Many participants described the ocean as a “healing place” and said that swimming helped them feel more positive, less anxious, and more in control of their emotions. The researchers explained that swimming in the sea was not a cure but could provide support for improving well-being when used together with other care.
Additionally, even a walk on a virtual coast can help. A study published in Environment and Behavior found that a virtual reality stroll down the coast can help people deal with pain. This means you do not always have to swim in the ocean to feel better. Just seeing it can help.
Blue Space vs. Green Space
We often hear about how forests and parks (our green spaces) help us relax, but water environments (our blue spaces) can have the same, even stronger effects. Like green spaces, ocean views give our brains a break. The sounds of waves are calming, the smell of salt air is refreshing and clean, and the sight of moving water can put us in a more relaxing and peaceful state of mind.
These key differences are in the sensory experience. Blue space activates senses of sound, smell, and sight in a unique way. According to the University of Virginia, blue spaces provide a special kind of mental rest for people living in cities. Even small water features boost mood and focus. The constant movement and sounds of the ocean could potentially create a deep and more immediate calming effect.
Why It Matters
Mental health is a challenge that affects people of all ages. Knowing that nature, especially the ocean, can help us feel better is important. Sometimes, it’s not about expensive treatments or endless screentime. Nature might be the answer. It’s free, relaxing, good for your brain, and if the ocean can heal us, then we owe it care in return. After all, the same waves that calm our minds depend on us to keep them clean and thriving.
References
Britton, E., Kindermann, G., Domegan, C., & Carlin, C. (2021). Blue care: A systematic review of blue space interventions for health and well-being. Health Promotion International. https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/35/1/50/5252008
Finlay, J., Franke, T., McKay, H., & Sims-Gould, J. (2015). Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults. Health & Place, 34, 97-106. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829215000672
Loewe, E. (2025, May 22). Going to the beach is good for your brain, according to science. National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/beach-ocean-mental-health-benefits
Nutsford, D., Pearson, A. L., Kingham, S., & Reitsma, F. (2016). Residential exposure to visible blue space (but not green space) associated with lower psychological distress in a capital city. Health & place, 39, 70-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.03.002
Taylor, A., O’Malley, M., O’Callaghan, R., & Goodwin, J. (2025). Exploring the use of sea swimming as an intervention with young people with mental health challenges: A qualitative descriptive study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34(1), e70000. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.70000
Tanja-Dijkstra, K., Pahl, S., White, M. P., Auvray, M., Stone, R. J., Andrade, J., … & Moles, D. R. (2018). The soothing sea: a virtual coastal walk can reduce experienced and recollected pain. Environment and behavior, 50(6), 599-625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916517710077
University of Virginia. (2023). Blue space: Access to water features can boost city dwellers’ mental health. https://environment.virginia.edu/news/blue-space-access-water-features-can-boost-city-dwellers-mental-health
White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Gascon, M., Roberts, B., & Fleming, L. E. (2020). Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits. Environmental Research, 191(191), 110169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110169
Zhang, N., Zhang, Y., Jiao, F., Liu, C., Shi, J., & Gao, W. (2025). Effects of spring water sounds on Psychophysiological responses in college students: an EEG study. Applied Acoustics, 228, 110318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2024.110318