The Mysteries of the Deep

There is no denying that the ocean is the most fascinating place on our planet. The ocean and space are the two things we are surrounded by yet know so little about. Every time an explorer plunges into the ocean, it's unlikely that they will come back up to the surface without discovering a new species or variety of creature. But every now and then, an unknown creature is washed up on a beach or something is spotted during an expedition that cannot be explained. These occurrences once again show us the endless possibilities the ocean is home to. Sit back and know that everything talked about in this article is sharing the planet with you.

Shark Eaten by Unknown Sea Creature

In 2003, Australian filmmaker Dave Riggs and his crew were asked to tag an adult great white shark along Australia's coast to monitor its behavior. One of the first great whites they managed to tag was a magnificent 9-foot-long female named Alpha. She was strong, healthy, and given the name "Alpha." Months later, her tag was washed up on a beach, and after reviewing the information from the tag, the researchers were left confused at what had happened.

The data revealed that Alpha suddenly plunged 520 meters down the edge of a continental shelf at 4 a.m. on the 24th of November 2003. The only explanation the researchers could give was that Alpha had been devoured by another living creature and was deep inside its belly during the recordings. The tag seemed to carry on recording from within the predator's belly for a further eight days before finally being excreted and washed up on the beach.

Theories about what could have eaten a nine-foot-long healthy great white shark range from an orca to a giant unknown sea creature. However, it took 11 years before a plausible theory was released. Dave Riggs himself theorized that another even larger cannibal great white shark was responsible, one that would have been almost twice Alpha's size and weighed over two tonnes.

Furry Creature Washes Up on Russian Beach

In early 2015, a mysterious carcass of a creature was found washed up on an island called Sakhalin along the east coast of Russia. The carcass was ripped apart, covered in blood, had bones protruding from its body, and was unusual in the fact that it had a long beak and was around eleven feet in length.

At first, experts identified it as some kind of rare big dolphin species, but due to its fur and large size, this was deemed unlikely. Despite a few theories, there hasn't been any real explanation. It's unsure if DNA samples were taken, and if they were, nothing has been released. The creature's presence on the beach was a mystery, as the water around the area is colder than most fish this size would usually live in. This led researchers to think that whatever it was may have been brought in by warm currents and died when the waters cooled.

Another study suggested that the carcass could have been a whale kelp, possibly that of a beaked whale. However, this would have meant that if it was a beaked whale or dolphin kelp, it would have been a very large one. Some even think it's an undiscovered sea creature, given its size and the unexplored areas within the ocean.

The 52 Hertz Whale

The 52 Hertz whale, often called the loneliest whale in the ocean, is the story of an unidentified sound that was recorded in the Pacific Ocean in 1989. The sound is thought to belong to a solitary unidentified species that is looking for a mate. What makes this sound unique is its frequency of 52 Hertz, much higher than any other known whale call.

Despite comprehensive monitoring and searching, nothing has been found, and nobody's sure what is creating the sound. Speculations range from a malformed blue whale to a mix of blue whale and another species. If it is the sound of a whale, then it could be the call of an undiscovered species, making it one of the ocean's biggest mysteries.

Mysterious Giant Shark

In early 2000, scientists from Japan conducted a study to learn more about marine life in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of any of the world's oceans. While studying an area not far from the trench called the Suruga Trough, they captured footage of a huge creature, estimated to be between 30 to 50 feet in length.

Scientists aren't exactly sure what type of shark it is. Some speculate it could be the long-thought-to-be-extinct Megalodon, while others suggest it might be a very large Pacific sleeper shark. Whatever it is, it adds to the mystery and excitement of the unexplored depths of the ocean.

These mysteries, from unknown sea creatures devouring great white sharks to giant sharks and lonely whale calls, highlight the vastness and enigmatic nature of the ocean. With so much yet to discover, the ocean continues to captivate our imagination and beckon us to explore its depths further.