Take that, Columbia River Colossal Claude nay-sayers: Its really true, there are SEA SERPENTS, and CNN has the story (http://tinyurl.com/oarfish18). Snorkeler JASMINE SANTANA encountered one thats 18 feet long off Catalina Island recently in 15-foot deep water.

OK, so it was really a giant oarfish. And it wasnt exactly living. Oarfish are found in all temperate to tropical waters, but are rarely seen, dead or alive, the CATALINA ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE said in a press release. It is believed that oarfish dive over 3,000 feet deep … and little is known about their behavior or population.

Santana grabbed it by the tail (yikes) and dragged the 400-pound carcass to the shore. It took more than a dozen people to help her haul the critter out of the water and hoist it up for the photo shown, which is courtesy of CIMI. (VapoRub under the nose, anyone?)

By the way, if you want to see a very much alive oarfish swimming, shot by marine biologist Mark C. Benfield and his team using a deep sea robotic camera, go to http://tinyurl.com/oarfishswim

While the Catalina fish seems to have died of natural causes, tissue and other samples are being sent to marine biologists for study, and the marine institute plans to keep the skeleton for educational purposes.

I was really amazed, Mark Waddington, who helped Santana, told CNN. It was like seeing something in a dream.

Elleda Wilson