New squid experience

[Diver0001]

Had an interesting experience with a squid tonight. Normally they keep their distance but they're laying eggs right now and you can approach them. I came up behind one and I guess it startled it because it dropped its eggsack and shot off. Then it came back and took off again a few times and then it came back and hung around about an arms length away. I just stayed where I was and just hung totally still and waited.

The squid came right up to my light and started going back and forth along the light and along my hand. I was even able to stroke it with my finger. Then it came right up to my mask and pecked me on the forehead just above my mask. For a minute I thought it had laid and egg on my forehead but that wasn't the case.

This was really great. I've never been able to get this cozy with a squid before.

R..

 

[dlndavid]

how big was the squid? sounds pretty cool

 

[Diver0001]

The ones we get around here are about a foot to 16 inches. This one was about a foot long.

 

[Jstew]

No way, that is so cool. What a cool experience and story. The only reef squids I have encountered were very small and quite shy. Where was this dive?

 

[TSandM]

That sounds like great fun. I'm hoping someday to have one of those interactions with one of our GPOs. I enjoy every interaction underwater where the creature acknowledges me being there, but doesn't flee in terror

 

[SeanQ]

Cool! What type of squid was it?

I enjoy every interaction underwater where the creature acknowledges me being there, but doesn't flee in terror

I think the second part applies to the diver as well.

 

[Diver0001]

Jstew,

We were diving in the Oosterschelde. That's a deepish sea inlet in the southern part of the Netherlands and it's popular with divers. Normally the squid are only there about this time of year. The come all the way up here from Mediterranean to mate and die. In another 3 weeks or so huge numbers of cuttlefish will also invade the Oosterschelde and lay their eggs. A short month after the eggs are laid they'll come out and the little ones will start making their way back to the Med.

Lynne,

Personally, I don't interact with the GPO's, I only look. Have you seen the video of the diver with a GPO all over his face trying to rip out his mask and regulator? It sure makes you think twice about playing with them... LOL

SeanQ,

The species is Loligo vulgaris. Photo attached.

R..

 

[chip104]

That's pretty awesome, Rot.

Unfortunately the only interaction I've had with a squid that large was caught by a fisherman (that's a 1-L bottle):

Squid & Cuttlefish are my favourite creatures to see underwater. I love the way they swim.