Through an affinity with water, very vivid and vision-like dreamsand coincidentally a near-drowning experience, over the last several months I've come to realize that I belong among those of the sea witch. Now I'd like to take some time to explain what that means and what in entails.
Sea witches often use water magick - more specifically from the sea but water from any source will do. I'm landlocked which means I have no body of water near me. I have to use the water from inside my home which of course works just fine but water that comes from its natural source (i.e. the ocean, lakes, rivers, creeks, etc. is always better). Sea witches also use Lunar, and weather magick's. In most lore revolving around the sea witch, it is said that she was able to control the weather.
Sea witches were also referred to as sea hags (much like our favorite purple villain with tentacles for legs). Mermaids, siren's, selkie's, they all derive from the term of sea witch. These were thought to be their forms that one would take, and often times their control over the seas could actually help the fishermen with their catches or it would even affect the tides of the ocean.
Sea witches and water witches are very similar, the only difference is the source in which their magick derives. Sea witches have a close connection with the sea specifically. Other sources of water, as I mentioned, will do justly. But the sea is much preferred for those that choose the title of sea witch. I personally don't feel that you have to have an affinity for water, but I do believe it helps tremendously. Even though I almost drowned a few years ago while in Myrtle Beach, I haven't let it stop or hinder my connection and love of the ocean. I just simply have a hard time convincing myself to get in the actual water and swim around.
Water witches were traditionally folk practitioners who used rods to figure out where water sources were or places that you could dig to find water. Their practices have become a bit more modern, in that they use water from every source or often from holy sources and wells that are blessed for healing. There is no real, true difference between the two terms. Sea witches are just really drawn to the sea.
Stones associated with Sea Witches:
Aquamarine
Abalone
Pearl
Ocean Jasper
Moonstone
Larimar
Deities:
Poseidon
Aphrodite
Yemaya
Amphitrite
These are only a few, there are more from other pantheon's but these are some of the few I personally work with, and the most common.
Most sea witches use seashells, ocean water, bones from fish and other sea creatures that have washed up and long since passed, sea glass, driftwood, etc. Anything from the sea, really. I personally have just started but I've already delved into making my own sea water and I made a protection potion as well with that same water.
Sea witchcraft is not as common as per se, the Wiccan religion. As its everywhere and in almost everything, Wicca gets a ton of recognition. Its difficult to find things that are reliable on the topic of sea witchcraft, but it is there.
Here are some of my sources:
Traditional Witchcraft for the Seashore by Melucine Draco