If i remember my school biology correctly, it can't be described as a living thing because of the following.

All living things move. Water doesn't unless assisted by either gravity or evaporation.

It doesn't grow.

It doesn't feed.

It doesn't excrete.

It doesn't respire.

it doesn't reproduce.

Yes... The whole planet is a living, breathing and conscious organism... Gaia....

I can understand completely. I've actually seen a documentary in the past that investigates whether water IS life...or a life form...Can't recall the name right now. If you think about it, life as we know it cannot exist without water...so maybe it is living or life itself. Who can prove it's not so?

Its a world by itself and I see it as opposite of air .. like we live in air world and thats water world. Anything has to perish in this world, for even rock solid can't remain so forever.

That's a very interesting concept. Yes, I think the ocean, itself, is alive. What I think you smell is the micro-organisms which have died off after they've been taken out of their living, breathing habitat.

No. it's not. It has some of the same reactions, but it's not a living thing as in having a consciousness.

That is such a beautiful and true perception!

It's not. Though it has wonderful forms of life in it.

No. The ocean is not a living thing... even if it responds in certain ways.