At 04:23 UTC on April 1, 2014, a hydrophone attached to the Ocean Networks Canada cabled observatory recorded very unusual sounds from the Eastern Strait of Georgia (depth: 170 m). Click the following audiogram to listen to this recording:
Audiogram of the unusual recording. Click to listen to this recording on Soundcloud.
Spectrographic analysis confirms that these sounds were not emitted by whale or a ship. The closest sound profiles we have to this unusual recording are those of sonar pings, but they are confirmed not to match any known make or model of sonar familiar to our staff scientists and engineers. Scientists speculate these recordings may represent vocalizations from an as-yet unknown marine species.
When I listen to the recording, it sends tingles down my spine!
Dr. Richard Dewey, Associate Director, Science suggested that “it may be possible that we’ve recorded the Cadborosaurus, a legendary creature known to inhabit the waters of the Salish Sea. Most often seen in Cadboro Bay, near the University of Victoria, this is the first recording I’m aware of. When I listen to the recording, it sends tingles down my spine!”
When processed through computer programs to generate a spectrogram, a frequency versus time representation of the audio trace, the story becomes a little more clear:
Spectrogram derived from the recording. (Click to enlarge.)
Several snake-like sea creatures seem to be suggested in spectrogram data, "but further investigation is required to confirm whether this may represent detection of a new species or not," added Dr. Dewey.
