"What were once monsters to be feared are now curious and magnificent creatures that delight. We like to feel that science and exploration has brought about this change." - NOAA Research
This is the very first time a giant squid has been captured on footage in US Waters. Edie Widder, one of the leaders of the research team was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told the Washington Post it was "one of the more amazing days at sea I've ever had."
The camera that captured the amazing footage is called Medusa, it employs a red lights invisible to most creatures at deep-sea depths, and was used to lure the animals with its attached "e-jelly" display, which mimics the bioluminescence of a deep-sea jelly fish.
Upon reviewing the Medusa's footage, the team wrote in their mission log, "People quickly gathered around. We knew immediately that it was a squid. It was also big, but because it was coming straight at the camera, it was impossible to tell exactly how big."
The scientists identified it to be a juvenile giant squid, about 10 to 12 feet long.
Read the full story at Ocean Explorer
