Killer Squid!!!!

[BIGG_BUDD]

The theory is, as previously stated, that they are super aggressive in the fishing areas. They basically freak out as they are being towed up to the boat, shooting ink, and generally fighting for their lives. If you think about it, that might freak you out a bit. You're in a group of your buddies going out for a bite to eat, then all of a sudden you're getting picked off by some unknown/unseen creature. You'd act aggressive too.

In that same show, it showed two divers (Mike deGruy and a female scientist) diving with Humboldts away from the fishing boats. Their behavior was very different, almost playfull.

Bottom line, they are a wild animal (well, cephalopods). Trying to generalize their behavior is impossible. Just like diving with other marine life that has attacked a human, they need to be approached with caution.

 

[drbill]

No need to go to the Sea of Cortez to "see" Humboldt squid. They've been caught recently off Santa Cruz Island and the mainland southern California coast. I keep thoughts of them in the back of my mind when I'm diving deep (150-200 ft), but have never seen one.

The member of SB who does these dives is "gonetobaja." See this thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=176264&highlight=Humboldt+squid

 

[mdmbike to scuba]

I'd love to do this, to get close and video them. Wow! Just have to win the lottery now to pay for it................

 

[Matt S.]

Yeah, it's really expensive! It's also 3 days of diving. I'd be much more interested in a cheaper 1-day trip.

 

[gonetobaja]

Whats up SBers!!

Here is a short video clip of what it is actually like to do a dive with the Humboldt squid. Not really that dangerous if you have the right gear on.

The price may seem high but after you figure out that we have over $30,000 just in saftey armor you begin to see how the price gets there. The reason you would want to dive 3 days instead of 1 or 2 is you get a higher chance to see free swimming animals.

We also like to teach people how to put on and dive with the armor on the first day to make sure everything is safe. Right now we have a 100% success rate at seeing squid and we have ZERO injuries (to customers) as a result of our dives. Season is starting to get busy, Ill be posting up some trip reports as I do them.

Well here is the video, let me know what you guys think.
http://www.squiddiving.com/media/SquidToursFiniMed.mov

GTB

 

[Kray_Z]

cool stuff.. i think i know what vid some of you are talking about... is it the one where they take a chain of lights down there and flash them and get them to communicate?

 

[gonetobaja]

Did anyone see this video clip? It has the only attacks ever seen by humboldt squid. Very clear they come in un-baited and nail us several times.

this video should take care of the myth that they wont attack. With the proper gear though its totaly safe.

http://www.squiddiving.com/media/SquidToursFiniMed.mov

GTB