Diver Bravely Confronts Enigmatic 30-Foot 'Sea Serpent'

“It was 33 feet long and almost 1.6 feet wide, and it was just flowing with the tide.”

Damjan

• Published in Animal Stories
• May 14, 2024

In the depths off the coast of Cape Brett on New Zealand’s North Island, 21-year-old diver Ben Laurie encountered a sight straight out of a sea tale: a massive creature, resembling a ‘sea serpent,’ measuring an astonishing 30 feet in length. This encounter, captured on film, left Laurie both terrified and fascinated, as he grappled with the mystery of this underwater behemoth.

Despite Laurie’s extensive experience as a diver and his role as an ambassador for the WildBlue dive shop, the sight of the creature left him bewildered. “We were diving there for kingfish, and we had plugged a couple, and then we were coming up from one of the dives when my friend saw this thing,” Laurie recounted. “It was 33 feet long and almost 1.6 feet wide, and it was just flowing with the tide.”

Laurie admitted to having no prior knowledge of such a creature, confessing, “I didn’t know what it was at the time, so it was quite a confusing thing.” Initially mistaking it for a larger version of small, stringy plankton build-ups, Laurie was stunned by the creature’s size and appearance.

Experts believe that the mysterious creature may have been a pyrosome, a rare floating colony composed of thousands of sea squirts. These colonies filter microscopic plant cells from the sea for feeding purposes. Each squirt within the colony draws in water from the outside and releases filtered water inside.

While pyrosomes typically inhabit depths of 2,000 meters, Laurie’s encounter with one in shallow waters is considered exceptionally rare. Laurie speculated that the creature may have been sick or injured, as it would normally remain at greater depths to avoid becoming prey for fish due to its softer texture.

A scientist characterized the sighting as a once-in-a-lifetime rarity, further adding to the intrigue surrounding Laurie’s underwater encounter.

A mesmerizing creature was caught on camera underwater, surrounded by smaller sea creatures.

The creature measured 33 feet long and nearly 1.6 feet wide as it drifted along with the current.

The pyrosome is a fascinating marine organism that captures the imagination with its enigmatic characteristics. Found in oceans around the world, these creatures are colonies of individual zooids, small multicellular organisms that work together as a single entity.

What sets the pyrosome apart is its cylindrical shape, resembling a translucent tube that can reach impressive lengths, sometimes measuring several meters. Its body is composed of a gelatinous material that allows it to maintain its structure while drifting through the ocean currents.

One of the most mesmerizing features of the pyrosome is its bioluminescence. Each zooid within the colony possesses light-producing organs, creating a spectacle of glowing light as they move through the depths of the ocean. This phenomenon serves various purposes, including communication, defense against predators, and attracting prey.

The creature is thought to be a pyrosome, a floating colony made of sea squirts that filter tiny plant cells from the sea for food.

"Sea creature mystery: Diver encounters 30-foot pyrosome "

This incredible sighting is like a wake-up call, making us realize just how much we still have to discover beneath the waves. When brave divers and smart scientists venture into the depths and stumble upon strange creatures like the one Ben saw, it's like finding pieces to a puzzle we didn't even know existed. Endless wonders and mysteries lie beneath the surface of the sea, just waiting for us to uncover them.

Damjan