It’s tempting to think every wave can be captured in a neat equation, but the ocean is more like a living laboratory—wild, stubborn, and full of surprises. Sure, we can fit broad trends and use statistics to spot patterns, but try to pin down the exact timing of a dolphin’s leap or the pulse of a coral reef, and you’ll find chaotic elements that keep defying the tidy models we love. The math is useful, but it’s just a starting point; the real story unfolds in the moments that refuse to be reduced.