Recently, a team of researchers enjoying a swim in San Diego unexpectedly came across an oarfish, a creature that is described as “incredibly rare” and has traditionally been seen as a sign of potential disasters, particularly earthquakes, which are not uncommon in that region.

While snorkeling and kayaking at La Jolla Cove, they discovered the dead sea serpent, according to Lauren Fimbres Wood, a spokesperson for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, who spoke to YSL News on Friday.

They quickly alerted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a manager from Scripps’ Marine Vertebrate collection, collaborating with lifeguards to transport the “large and heavy fish” to a nearby NOAA facility, as stated by Fimbres Wood. They also ensured to capture many photographs of the unusual sight.

This deep-sea fish has been sighted in California just 20 times since the year 1901, making this finding especially significant for the researchers. Their efforts will allow scientists to further investigate this enigmatic species, Fimbres Wood added.

The specimen will be included in Scripps’ marine vertebrate collection, which is among the largest collections of deep-sea fish globally, according to Fimbres Wood.

Photos: Scientists capture images of the ‘rare’ find during a swim

The reason behind the “mysterious species” surfacing is not yet clear, but it provided a perfect chance for researchers Emily Miller, Natalia Erazo, Alejandro Cano-Lasso Carretero, Gabriella Costa Machado da Cruz, Michael Wang, and Luis Erazo to snap a few pictures with the oarfish before it was collected.

Scientists from NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Scripps conducted a necropsy on Friday to ascertain the cause of the fish’s death. Fimbres Wood was unavailable for comment on Monday to provide more details about the necropsy.

The oarfish is particularly intriguing since it typically inhabits the deep sea, residing at depths ranging from 700 to 3,280 feet below sea level, as reported by YSL News. They seldom appear at the surface without significant reasons.

According to Hiroyuki Motomura, an ichthyology professor at Kagoshima University, this fish, often referred to as the “messenger from the sea god’s palace,” is believed to only rise to the surface when it is unwell, often being carried by currents, which explains why it is often discovered dead.

There is no scientific evidence yet connecting the oarfish’s emergence to potential earthquakes, Motomura informed The Post.