Ocean colour

Crystal clear with sunlight reaching far down into the depths, yet so deep, deep blue at the same time. The transparency, the attractive colour and warm temperature is inviting, but deceiving. Out in the open Pacific Ocean the conditions are harsh. The sun is generous out here, but the crucial building material for life to flourish are scarce, we find ourselves in the ocean desert.

The scattered tropical islands of the Pacific are far apart and create refuge from the open ocean. Shallow lagoons displays lighter turquoise blue tones and shimmers of the vivid colours of the coral reef and abundant life that resides here. This is also a place for transit, a place to linger in the comfort of the excessive heat accumulated here. A sea turtle is slowly swimming past, reef fish are busy with their daily endeavours, and a humpback whale with its newborn calf is hovering outside the lagoon, where the seafloor is sloping sharply down into the depths and the darker blues take lead.

As the sun hovers over the horizon, the ocean glows in orange and yellow. Sparkles of gold dance across the rippled surface. Soon the glow fades away, and the blues come back for a brief moment before the blackness of the night rushes in. The moon paints in silver and yellow, settling on white and grey as she rises in the night sky. Following behind our moving home, a tail of cloudy white with hints of blue and the occasional flare of metallic blue. A swarm of jellyfish is sending out their bioluminescent signals, resembling the night sky above with the stars of the milky way.

Heading south the temperature is dropping a degree a day, the latitude is creeping up together with the layers of clothing. The ocean colour slowly loses its tropic blue tones and flatter blues take over. Shades of grey enter the scene, and waves break more often now, adding white to the picture. The high paced world of air makes sure the variation of greys and blues are in a constant motion, following along the perpetual dance of the clouds.

The lush green slopes of New Zealand fills the horizon, and our friend turn a magical jade green. This is the sign of thriving life. Connected to land and the open sea, these waters provide well for our tiny little ocean creatures. The sun is bouncing off the top of lightly breaking waves decorating the green with lines of white and golden yellow.

From the deep azure and the joyful turquoise to the stormy greys and the magical jade green, our beloved Pacific Ocean has shown us some of her many colours. The sun, the air, the ocean itself and the many forms and sizes of life, all join in the eternal process of painting the sea.