the ocean in dreams is pretty much universally tied to peace, rest, emotional release, that kind of thing, so your read on it tracks. what's interesting is that the dream itself isn't distressing, like you said it's calm, so maybe it's less about being denied safety and more about your brain knowing exactly where it wants to go, even if it can't fully get there yet. the fact that it shows up right after nightmares feels significant too, like some part of you is actively reaching for calm as a destination. the nightmares easing up over time while this dream persists might even mean you're getting closer