The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet… and most of it is still a mystery. That's what makes it so incredibly magical. This Earth Month, we're inviting your family to dive a little deeper into the deep blue sea with our newest print, Underwater Discovery.
It’s a whimsical, illustration-packed design that takes kids on a journey from the sun-dappled surface all the way down to the darkest trenches of the sea. Every creature has a real home at a real depth — and we think that's pretty cool.
Whether you read this together at bedtime, use it as a springboard for a rainy-day activity, or just let your little one point at all the animals and shout their names (we love that too), this one's for the curious kids and the parents who love learning alongside them.
Don't forget to grab our free Underwater Discovery coloring page and creature worksheet — it’s the perfect companion to this post.
The Ocean Has Layers (And So Does Our Print!)
Before we meet the sea creatures, here's something fun to know: the ocean isn't just one big body of water. It's actually divided into distinct zones based on depth and how much sunlight reaches them. Our Underwater Discovery print shows all five, stacked just like they are in real life.
Sunny Zone (0–200 meters): This is the bright, warm top layer where most ocean life hangs out. Sunlight filters all the way through, which means plants can grow and animals can see and be seen.
Twilight Zone (200–1,000 meters): Things start getting a bit dim down here. Some light trickles in, but not enough to support plant life. Animals in this zone have adapted to low-light living in some seriously cool ways.
Dark Zone (1,000–4,000 meters): No sunlight reaches this depth. It's cold, the pressure is intense, and the creatures here look like they were dreamed up for a sci-fi movie.
Abyss (4,000–6,000 meters): Almost nothing lives here — but "almost" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. The animals that do call this home are among the most extraordinary on Earth.
Trench (6,000+ meters): The deepest, most extreme environment on the planet. The Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the ocean, sits nearly 11,000 meters below the surface.
Meet the Sea Creatures
Welcome to the Sunny Zone
Whale
Blue whales are the largest animals to ever live on Earth. Seriously, they’re bigger than any dinosaur was. They communicate through low, rumbling songs that can travel hundreds of miles underwater.
Shark
Sharks have been around for over 450 million years, making them older than trees. Most sharks need to keep swimming to breathe, so they're basically always on the move.
Scuba Diver
Okay, this one isn't a sea creature, but humans have been exploring the ocean for centuries, and scuba gear lets us get up close with marine life in the Sunny Zone. The deep stuff requires a submarine.
Tropical Fish
The Sunny Zone is home to thousands of species of colorful reef fish. Their bright colors aren't just pretty — they help with camouflage, communication, and finding a mate.
Sea Turtle
Sea turtles have been navigating the ocean for more than 100 million years. They use the Earth's magnetic field like a built-in GPS to find their way back to the same beach where they were born.
Dolphins
Dolphins are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. They have names for each other in the form of unique whistles that individuals use to identify themselves, kind of like a built-in name tag.
Seal / Sea Lion
These playful pinnipeds are built for both land and sea. They're surprisingly fast swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes when diving for food.
Let’s Head Into the Twilight Zone
Submarine
While not a sea creature, submarines let scientists explore the deeper layers of the ocean that humans can't reach with just a wetsuit and fins. Some can dive thousands of meters below the surface.
Stingray
Stingrays are closely related to sharks and "fly" through the water by flapping their wide, flat bodies like wings. Some species can leap completely out of the water.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish have no brain, no heart, and no bones — yet they've been drifting through the ocean for over 500 million years. Some species glow in the dark through a process called bioluminescence.
Down Into the Dark Zone
Octopus
Octopuses are wildly intelligent. They can solve puzzles, open jars, and even recognize individual human faces. They have three hearts, blue blood, and can change color in milliseconds.
Giant Squid
For centuries, giant squids were considered sea monsters — and, honestly, fair. They can grow up to 40 feet long and have eyes the size of dinner plates, the largest of any animal on Earth.
Anglerfish
The anglerfish is the Dark Zone's most iconic resident. It uses a bioluminescent lure dangling from its forehead to attract prey in pitch-black water. It looks like something out of a nightmare, and kids absolutely love it.
Continuing Into the Abyss and Trench
Snail
Certain species of snails have been found at extreme depths, with shells adapted to withstand crushing pressure. They move slowly through the sediment, feeding on whatever organic matter drifts down from above.
Coral
Most people picture coral in warm, shallow reefs — but deep-sea coral actually thrives in cold, dark water and can live for thousands of years. They provide habitat for hundreds of other species far below the surface.
Make It a Moment! Download and Learn.
Want to turn this into a hands-on activity? We made a free Underwater Discovery coloring page and creature worksheet just for your little ones. It's perfect for a cozy afternoon, a birthday party activity, or an Earth Month project for school.
Print it out, color it in, and see how many creatures you can name together.
The Ocean Is Worth Exploring — and Protecting
There's something about learning how big and wild and weird the ocean is that makes you want to take care of it. The creatures in our Underwater Discovery print are real, remarkable, and worth knowing about. The more kids learn about the natural world, the more they grow up wanting to protect it. That feels like a pretty good reason to snuggle up and read together.
If you’re ready to wear your love for the ocean, shop the full Underwater Discovery collection and bring a little of that deep-sea magic home.
We want to hear from you! Comment your little one’s favorite sea creature for a chance to win a $50 LS gift card. We give one away every month!
