Cadborosaurus: The Pacific Sea Serpent

Cadborosaurus, affectionately known as “Caddy,” is a sea serpent reported primarily in the waters of the Pacific Northwest, from Alaska to California. Named after Cadboro Bay in British Columbia where early sightings occurred, this creature has been reported for nearly a century and represents one of North America’s most enduring marine cryptids.

Description

Physical Characteristics

Witnesses consistently describe:

• A horse-like or camel-like head
• Long, serpentine neck
• Total length of 40-70 feet (estimates vary)
• Humped body or series of humps
• Flippers or fins
• Vertical undulation when swimming
• Grayish-brown coloring
• Sometimes described with a mane

Swimming Behavior

Caddy reportedly:

• Moves with vertical undulations (unlike seals or whales)
• Travels at high speeds
• Creates distinctive wake patterns
• Sometimes raises head high above water
• Travels alone or in pairs

Notable Sightings

The Naden Harbor Carcass (1937)

The most famous evidence:

• A strange carcass was found inside a sperm whale’s stomach
• At Naden Harbor whaling station in Queen Charlotte Islands
• Photographed before being discarded
• Showed a horse-like head and long body
• Photos have been analyzed extensively
• Never definitively identified

Major Archie (1933)

An early documented sighting:

• Major W.H. Langley, a barrister, reported seeing Caddy
• Near Victoria, British Columbia
• His credibility as a lawyer gave the sighting weight
• Described the classic horse-head and serpentine body

The Kemp Family (1933)

Multiple witness encounter:

• Family saw creature in Cadboro Bay
• Observed it for several minutes
• Detailed description matched other reports
• Helped establish the name “Cadborosaurus”

Captain Paul Sowerby (1934)

Professional mariner sighting:

• Experienced ship captain
• Observed creature near Vancouver Island
• Detailed technical description
• Estimated length at 60 feet

San Francisco Bay (2009)

Modern sighting with video:

• Video captured by fishermen
• Showed an unknown creature in the bay
• Analyzed but inconclusive
• Renewed interest in Caddy

Scientific Interest

Dr. Paul LeBlond

Leading Cadborosaurus researcher:

• Oceanographer at University of British Columbia
• Co-authored books on the subject
• Collected hundreds of reports
• Applied scientific methodology
• Believes an unknown species may exist

Taxonomic Proposal

Based on sighting patterns:

• The name “Cadborosaurus willsi” has been proposed
• Would represent a new species of large marine animal
• Classification as a type of living plesiosaur or unknown mammal
• Not officially recognized by science

The Naden Harbor Analysis

Scientific examination of the 1937 photos:

• Has produced conflicting interpretations
• Some see a decomposed basking shark
• Others see an unknown species
• The actual carcass was not preserved
• Analysis continues to be debated

Possible Explanations

Unknown Species

Proponents argue:

• The Pacific is poorly explored at depth
• New marine species are still discovered
• Consistent descriptions suggest real animal
• Caddy could be a surviving prehistoric species
• Or an undiscovered modern species

Oarfish

Skeptics suggest sightings might be:

• Giant oarfish (can reach 36 feet)
• Have long, serpentine bodies
• Rarely seen at surface
• Could explain some reports

Basking Sharks

Decomposing basking sharks:

• Create “pseudoplesiosaur” carcasses
• The Naden Harbor specimen may have been this
• Could explain some beach strandings

Elephant Seals

These animals:

• Can look unusual at surface
• Have long necks (relatively)
• Found in Pacific waters
• Could be misidentified

Logs and Debris

Some sightings might be:

• Floating logs
• Kelp formations
• Debris creating illusions
• Marine mammals with debris attached

Geographic Distribution

Primary Range

Most sightings occur in:

• British Columbia’s Inside Passage
• Puget Sound, Washington
• Waters around Vancouver Island
• San Francisco Bay area
• Occasionally further north into Alaska

Habitat

Caddy is reported in:

• Coastal waters
• Bays and inlets
• Near kelp forests
• Areas with rich marine life
• Both open water and near shore

Comparison to Other Sea Serpents

Global Sea Serpent Reports

Cadborosaurus joins a tradition of:

• Loch Ness Monster (freshwater)
• Champ (Lake Champlain)
• Morgawr (Cornwall, UK)
• Various Scandinavian sea serpents

Unique Aspects

Caddy is distinctive for:

• Horse-like head (many serpents described differently)
• Consistent geographic range
• Photographic evidence (the Naden Harbor photos)
• Ongoing sightings into the modern era

Cultural Impact

Indigenous Traditions

First Nations peoples:

• Have traditions of sea creatures
• Some may relate to Caddy
• Cultural knowledge predates Western sightings
• Adds depth to the legend

Tourism

Cadborosaurus has become:

• Part of Pacific Northwest identity
• Subject of tourism interest
• Featured in local media
• A beloved regional cryptid

Recent Sightings

21st Century Reports

Sightings continue:

• 2009 San Francisco Bay video
• Various British Columbia reports
• Washington State sightings
• Alaska observations
• The creature remains actively reported

Technology Impact

Modern technology offers:

• Better cameras and phones
• More documentation potential
• Video analysis capabilities
• Yet no definitive proof obtained

Conclusion

Cadborosaurus has been seen in Pacific waters for nearly a century. Hundreds of witnesses, including ship captains, scientists, and everyday people, have reported a horse-headed serpent swimming off the coast.

Whether Caddy is:

• A surviving prehistoric marine reptile
• An unknown species of modern animal
• A series of misidentifications
• A persistent legend with no physical basis
• Or something science hasn’t yet explained

The sightings continue. The Pacific keeps her secrets in her cold, deep waters. And somewhere between California and Alaska, witnesses still report seeing something strange - something long and serpentine with a head like a horse, moving through the kelp forests and open waters of the Pacific coast.

Caddy, the friendly serpent of Cadboro Bay, swims on through the realm of cryptozoology, neither proven nor disproven, waiting for the evidence that will finally reveal what she truly is.