An abnormal and persistent fear of depths. Sufferers from bathophobia experience anxiety even though they realize they are safe from falling into or being consumed by depths. The feared object may be a long, dark hallway, a well or a deep pool or lake.
See also:
- Aquaphobia: “a persistent and abnormal fear of water.”
- Thalassophobia: “an intense and persistent fear of the sea.”
- Megalohydrothalassophobia: “fear of large things in water” (not a medically-acknowledged phobia.)
- Sea snakes from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: perhaps the only part of a video game to actually give me nightmares.
UPDATE (04/19/2015): See also this sperm whale photobombing some scientists (h/t Jen).
