Modern humans have adapted to practicality every natural environment on earth, their intelligence and use of weapons have made us the predominant animal on the planet. Yet over 7 million years ago proto-mankind was a small weak creature, who on the savannah would have found it hard to survive and was the prey of most carnivores. Modern humans only survive on the savannah with the aid of domesticated herds, weapons and agriculture which was not available to early primitive mankind.
On a seashore our diminutive ape was in an environment which not only provided a regular source of food but gave a degree of safety. Most primates were capable of rising on two legs for a short distance which combined with the support of water could wade into deeper water. The ability to swim and put your head underwater followed on naturally, opening up a connection with water which survives until today. Modern humans are used to being compared unfavourably to other animals which can run faster, climb quicker and survive better in the inhospitable wilderness. But in the water and the sea we are more efficient and can swim better than many sea creatures.
Aquatic plants and animals are plentiful in both marine and freshwater environments along rivers, river estuaries, tidal and inter-tidal beaches where there is an abundant source of foodstuff. Professor Michael Crawford of Imperial College, London, and an expert on nutrition points out that sea food which is rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and long-chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids are essential for brain development. DHA is ultimately found in marine and freshwater algae and plankton which is consumed by aquatic creatures. DHA is not easily synthesised by terrestrial plants and ruminants or the carnivores that feed on them. In professor Crawford’s view human brains could not have developed to the size they are without unless our ancestors were semi aquatic and lived solely on a diet of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, sea birds and their eggs.
Not only did we become semi aquatic but as we shall see, over aeons our bodies became adapted to the aquatic life.