Deep Sea Monsters Are Coming Up… But Why？!

The ocean's depths are home to some of the most enigmatic creatures on our planet. Occasionally, the sea reveals its secrets, bringing these deep-sea dwellers to our shores. But is this phenomenon a simple coincidence, or are there other factors at play? Welcome to All Things Explored, where today, we explore the fascinating instances of deep-sea creatures washing ashore. Also, can fish really be transparent? Stay till the very end to learn this fun fact of a nugget. In February 2025, beachgoers in Baja California Sur, Mexico, encountered a rare oarfish near the shore. These elusive creatures typically inhabit depths between 650 and 3300 feet and can grow up to 36 feet long. Their infrequent appearances have earned them the nickname Doomsday Fish, as Japanese folklore considers them omens of earthquakes. Scientists suggest that oceanic changes, such as El Niño, a warming of surface waters in the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean, may drive these deep-sea dwellers closer to the surface. Giant squids are elusive deep-sea creatures in the world's largest invertebrates. They possess the animal kingdom's largest eyes, comparable to beach walls. These gargantuan squids have long inspired a number of myths and legends due to their sheer size. The Kraken is a staple of Scandinavian folklore and sailor superstition. They have said to live off the coast of Norway and Greenland, and legend has it that they are as large as islands and are capable of sinking ships and feasting on sailors. In October 2013, a 30-foot-long, 400-pound giant squid washed ashore at La Arena Beach in Cantabria, Spain. That's about the same weight as an adult brown bear. This gave scientists the rare opportunity to study these almost mythical creatures. The coast of South Africa became the scene of a marine mystery in May 2017 when three great white sharks washed ashore. The puzzling part? They were all missing their livers, and one was missing its heart. Scientists performed necropsies on all three sharks, examining their injuries to uncover the cause of death. Their detective work identified the likely culprit—orcas. Orcas, also called killer whales, are known to attack other shark species and eat their organs. The sharks' injuries were consistent with orca predation. Livers are a choice snag for orcas because they're filled with fat and rich nutrients. As heartbreaking, unsettling, or perhaps both as it may seem to see these majestic, grotesque, and sometimes unbelievable sea creatures washed ashore, it does beg the question, what really happened here? The truth is, the fate of marine life hangs in a delicate ecological balance, which once disturbed can cause a butterfly effect of consequences—harmful algal blooms that produce toxins leading to marine life mortality, climate change causing ocean warming and habitat shifts, marine pollution such as plastic debris ingestion, and geomagnetic disturbances from solar storms disrupting navigation. Any of these factors, or a combination of them, can cause these creatures to surface, vulnerable or dead. But all is not lost. As marine life lovers, we can all play our part to help restore ecological balance. Reduce your carbon footprint. Support sustainable fishing. Participate in beach cleanups. Educate others around you. Now time for that fun fact we promised. The deep sea is home to the barreleye fish, Macropinomycrostoma, a species with a transparent head that allows it to look upward through its skull. Its tubular eyes can rotate within this clear shield, enabling it to attract prey above while remaining motionless in the water. If you enjoyed this deep dive into mysteries of the ocean, hit subscribe, comment, and share. Tell us about your favorite deep sea creatures in the comments below.