Marine scientist finds 18 ft Oarfish while swimming off Catalina Island

Impressive, read for instance the Register

Marine science instructor Jasmine Santana was swimming along the coast of Catalina Island when she came across the huge beast, which was actually a rare oarfish, but nonetheless the “discovery of a lifetime”, according to local news network KTLA.

The oarfish, a type of elongated lampriform fish, looks like a giant snake. It was dead when Santana found it, having apparently succumbed to natural causes.

“It took 15 or 20 of us to pick it up,” said Jeff Chace, a programme director at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, where Santana works.

http://youtu.be/1DXS5dVU58c