Food & Drink
Liquid Assets: Creatures of the Deep
When it comes to cryptids, Loch Ness can’t hold a plesiosaur to the things that lurk in the depths o
By Seattle Mag July 19, 2011
This article originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of Seattle magazine.
Rumors of a giant squid dwelling beneath the Tacoma Narrows Bridge are probably bunk. Probably.
Lake Washington is reportedly home to a monstrous white sturgeon, which, according to various witness accounts, measures 20 feet in length.
The briny channels of upper Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are the alleged stomping ground of Cadborosaurus, an elusive sea monster named after nearby Cadboro Bay, B.C. “Caddy,” as the creature is known, might be a living basilosaurus (a prehistoric whale) or an undiscovered species of long-necked seal—or not! There have been more than 300 reported Caddy sightings in the past 200 years. If you see him, you’ll know him by his fuzzy, camel-like head, little front flippers and snaky body.
Elliott Bay is a regular underwater party of Puget Sound marine life, making it a popular spot for divers. The giant Pacific octopus—the largest species of octopus in the world (100 pounds!)—fascinates with its freaky locomotion and surprising intelligence (it can maneuver mazes, unscrew jar lids and, in Germany, pick World Cup winners!). Get some firsthand, er, firsttentacle experience with these amazing invertebrates by strapping on tanks and learning to scuba with local diving pros. Seattle Scuba’s beginning open-water course ($395) can be spanned out over a couple of weeks, while time-strapped beginners will appreciate GirlDiver’s coed weekend Scuba Immersion class ($429). Already scuba certified? Hook up with other Seattle divers for group dives via Seattle Scuba (seattlescuba.com).
