Cadborosaurus – The Sea Serpent of the Pacific Northwest

🌊 Introduction – The Mystery Beneath the Waves

Off the mist-covered coast of British Columbia, where the mountains fade into fog and the sea breathes secrets, tales have long circulated about a creature known simply as “Caddy” (Cadborosaurus). I’m Tom Grizzle—monster hunter, reporter, and chronicler of the unexplained—and my search brought me to the rugged shores of Vancouver Island, chasing one of North America’s most enduring maritime mysteries: the Cadborosaurus.

🐍 Origins of the Legend – From First Nations to Sailors

Long before European ships crossed these waters, the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest told stories of a serpent-like creature dwelling beneath the waves. The Nootka and Haida called it Hiyitl'iik—“the thing that lives under the sea.” It was said to be as swift as a whale, as slender as an eel, and as dangerous as a shark.

When settlers and sailors arrived, they too began reporting strange shapes gliding through the inlets and bays. But it wasn’t until the 1930s that this ancient spirit of the sea was given a name that would endure: Cadborosaurus, after the Cadboro Bay near Victoria, British Columbia.

📜 The First Recorded Sighting – Victoria, 1933

In the summer of 1933, passengers aboard a steamship reported seeing something remarkable in the waters of Cadboro Bay—a long, serpent-like body with a horse-shaped head and glistening scales. That same year, local policeman Constable J.W. MacDonald described a similar creature, around 50 feet long, undulating gracefully beneath the surface.

The press caught fire with the story, and soon everyone was talking about the mysterious sea serpent known affectionately as “Caddy.”

🐉 The 1937 Discovery – The Creature Inside the Whale

In 1937, the legend of Caddy took on new life when whalers at the Naden Harbour Whaling Station on the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii) discovered a strange carcass inside a sperm whale. The remains were photographed and described as roughly 10 feet long, with flippers, a long serpentine body, and a horse-like head.

The photos were sent to the Provincial Museum of Natural History in Victoria, but tragically, the original negatives were lost. Copies survived, however, and decades later, zoologists Dr. Edward L. Bousfield and Paul LeBlond analyzed them—concluding the remains could not be attributed to any known animal.

👁️ Description – The Face of the Unknown

Across more than a century of reports, witnesses describe Cadborosaurus with striking consistency:

• Length between 30 and 50 feet

• Long, serpentine body with smooth or scaled skin

• Horse- or camel-like head, often with mane-like ridges

• Flippers or small fins on the sides

• Wave-like swimming motion, rising and falling as it moves

Many claim Caddy can lift its head out of the water—like a sea serpent surveying its domain—before disappearing beneath the waves.

🧭 Sightings Along the Coast – From Alaska to California

Reports of Cadborosaurus stretch across more than 600 miles (1,000 km) of Pacific coastline. From Sitka, Alaska, to San Francisco Bay, people have claimed to see this elusive creature. But the heart of the legend lies between Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, within the cold, deep channels of the Salish Sea.

The 1930s through 1960s saw a wave of sightings from fishermen, ferry passengers, and even military personnel. In 1968, a Canadian Navy sonar operator reported detecting “a massive, moving object” unlike any known sea life.

🧬 Theories – Myth, Monster, or Marine Mystery?

Scientists and cryptozoologists have offered numerous explanations for the Cadborosaurus phenomenon:

• Prehistoric Survivor: Some believe Caddy is a descendant of the Plesiosaur, the long-necked marine reptile of the dinosaur age.

• Undiscovered Sea Creature: Marine biologists like Paul LeBlond theorized it could be an unknown species of large eel or marine reptile.

• Misidentification: Skeptics argue that sightings are likely sea lions, giant oarfish, floating logs, or even decomposed whale remains.

• Spiritual Guardian: For the First Nations, Caddy is sometimes viewed as a protector of the sea, symbolizing respect and balance between humans and nature.

📸 Modern Evidence – Cameras, Sonar, and Science

In the late 20th century, technology brought new tools to the hunt. By the 1980s, researchers had compiled over 300 documented sightings, many from credible sources like mariners and pilots.

In 1991, a couple near DeCourcy Island captured one of the most famous videos of Caddy—showing a wave-like creature moving through the water, with what appears to be a head rising above the surface. While inconclusive, the footage reignited public fascination with the legend.

🪶 Culture and Legacy – Caddy in the Public Imagination

Today, Cadborosaurus is as much a part of Pacific Northwest folklore as Bigfoot is of the forests. It appears in documentaries by National Geographic and Discovery Channel, in novels, comics, and even as a mascot for coastal events.

In Victoria, local artists and boat owners celebrate the legend with Caddy-themed murals, statues, and stories passed down through generations. For many, the creature isn’t a monster—it’s a symbol of the untamed mystery of the ocean.

🔥 Conclusion – The Whisper Beneath the Water

I’ve stood at the edge of the Salish Sea at dawn—mist curling over the tide, the world perfectly still. And sometimes, when the waves move in strange rhythms, I swear something stirs beneath them. Maybe Caddy is just a myth. Or maybe it’s a relic from a forgotten age, watching us from the depths.

Whether real or imagined, Cadborosaurus remains one of the greatest mysteries of the sea—a reminder that even in the modern world, there are still places where the unknown waits just below the surface.