By the Sea

There is something about the vastness of the oceans, which are significantly larger than the continents combined, that has drawn humans in a significant way since the beginning of coastal communities. Water also has huge cultural and spiritual significance for people through the ages and for centuries we looked to the sand and surf as a fully-stocked medicine cabinet. Despite the widespread intuitive feeling that being by the water makes us happier and healthier, there hasn't been much scientific evidence to quantify this connection. Until now. Environmental psychology is the study of how the natural environment makes us feel, think and behave, and scientists in this area are discovering the tangible benefits of breathing in the fresh sea air.