Off the coast of Toyama Bay, Japan, a breathtaking — and slightly terrifying — encounter stunned the diving world.
While scuba diving, Yosuke and Miki Tanaka came face-to-face with a creature few humans have ever seen alive: a real-life giant squid stretching nearly 8 feet long.
The massive cephalopod was gliding gracefully near the surface, its tentacles rippling like ribbons through the cold, green water.
“It’s very rare to see them alive,” Tanaka told Newsweek. “I was so excited — and terrified. Its arms were so thick that if it grabbed me, I wouldn’t be able to escape.”
🌊 A Chance Encounter with the Ocean’s Phantom
The couple, who run a diving school called Dive Resort T-style in Hyogo Prefecture, were alerted by a local ferryman who had spotted something strange drifting near the waterline. When they arrived, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
Hovering among seaweed, the giant squid appeared curious rather than aggressive, moving slowly as though conserving its strength.
Tanaka’s underwater footage shows the animal in full detail — long tentacles, ghostly pale skin, and its huge, unblinking eyes scanning the divers. “I wanted to swim closer,” he said, “but I also knew how dangerous it could be. So I kept a respectful distance.”
🧠 Scientists Weigh In: “A Rare Opportunity to Study the Deep”
Marine biologist Tsunemi Kubodera from Tokyo’s National Museum of Nature and Science — the same expert who filmed the world’s first living giant squid in 2006 — analyzed the footage.
Based on its size, he estimated the squid was only 1 to 2 years old, still a juvenile.
“Giant squid can grow up to 12 meters (39 feet) long,” said Kubodera. “Encounters like this help us understand how they develop and behave before they reach adulthood.”
Dr. Jon Ablett, a cephalopod expert at London’s Natural History Museum, added,
“The giant squid, Architeuthis dux, remains one of the most mysterious creatures on Earth. Even though it can weigh hundreds of kilograms, we still know very little about its life in the deep.”
⚓ The Deep-Sea Giant: Facts You Should Know
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Species name: Architeuthis dux
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Average size: 20–40 feet (6–12 meters)
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Lifespan: About 5 years
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Habitat: Deep ocean zones (200–1000 meters)
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Diet: Fish and other squids, captured with their powerful tentacles
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Predator: The sperm whale — its only known natural enemy
Giant squid are elusive because they live at extreme ocean depths, where sunlight cannot reach. Their enormous eyes — up to the size of a soccer ball — help them detect faint light from prey and predators in total darkness.
🐋 A World of Giants Beneath the Waves
Interestingly, the giant squid isn’t even the largest of its kind. Scientists believe its cousin, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), may grow even bigger — though a fully mature specimen has never been found.
These deep-sea titans rarely surface unless injured or disoriented, often brought up by strong currents or changes in temperature.
“It’s like seeing a creature from another world,” said marine diver and researcher Mika Hayashi. “They’re proof that Earth’s oceans are still filled with secrets.”
🌍 Mystery of the Deep
Despite being the stuff of legends — inspiring tales of the Kraken and countless sea monster myths — giant squid are not mythical at all. They’re real, intelligent, and still largely unknown.
A study once estimated that over 130 million giant squid are eaten each year by sperm whales alone, meaning these creatures may be far more common than we realize — just hidden in the deep.
Tanaka and Miki say the sighting has inspired them to document Toyama Bay’s unique marine life even more.
“I feel lucky to have met one even once in my life,” Yosuke said. “It’s a reminder that our oceans hold incredible mysteries we’ve barely begun to explore.”
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🌌 The Ocean Still Holds Its Secrets
From the frozen Arctic depths to the warm waters of Japan, the giant squid continues to remind us that Earth’s final frontier isn’t space — it’s the ocean.
For every creature we’ve discovered, there are countless others waiting below, just beyond the reach of light.
And every once in a while — as Yosuke and Miki discovered — one of them rises from the darkness to say hello.
