Killer Squid??

[MicahEW]

I was watching a tv show about killer squid and feedback?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo53ErZgkRw&feature=related

[mitchy]

Saw a show on them too. They are vicious and will attack. The'r tentacles can be razor sharp.

[Clanggedin]

I think they are called Humbolt Squid. What's funny iis the guy wears modified stormtrooper armor for protection against their attacks.

I remember him saying that one pulled him down 70' in a matter of seconds and his ear drum burst becuase he couldn't equalize fast enough.

What's odd is after watching that show, I now have a desire to dive with them.. They say that if you dive with group they are less likely to attack.

[CompuDude]

Humbolt squid are the issue you're thinking of, not the cute cuttlefish in that YouTube video.

Divers see them on very rare occasions, but the big ones you should worry about only come near the surface in the Sea of Cortez, for the most part.

One of these days I would seriously love to have a Humbolt encounter (suitably armored) with Scott Cassell, who I have met several times. Fascinating creatures. It's not something you need to worry about in normal recreational diving areas, though.

[rfreddo]

There is an article on the squid in the March issue of Scuba Diving.

[maggs_the]

i saw that article and went to their website and told my friends in California that they have weird sh!t out there and i dont know that i want to dive there anymore... but turns out it's actually down towards Baja..

yeah, this guy wants me to pay him $2000 so he can dangle me like bait for a "killer" squid that hunts in packs?? i'll leave this type of adventure to the rest of you. i'll be over here ooohhhing at the pretty fish..

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by maggs_the

i saw that article and went to their website and told my friends in California that they have weird sh!t out there and i dont know that i want to dive there anymore... but turns out it's actually down towards Baja..

yeah, this guy wants me to pay him $2000 so he can dangle me like bait for a "killer" squid that hunts in packs?? i'll leave this type of adventure to the rest of you. i'll be over here ooohhhing at the pretty fish..

It's an adventure... far more of an adventure, if you ask me, than sitting in 8' of water in a shark cage lashed to the back of a boat, just to see great whites on the other side of the bars. And yet people line up, to pay even more money, for that one.

It's not for everyone, and I'm all about looking at the pretty fish, but it would be a very cool experience nonetheless.

And yes, it's down in Baja (actually the Sea of Cortez, between Baja and mainland Mexico), not in California.

[MicahEW]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Humbolt squid are the issue you're thinking of, not the cute cuttlefish in that YouTube video.

Divers see them on very rare occasions, but the big ones you should worry about only come near the surface in the Sea of Cortez, for the most part.

One of these days I would seriously love to have a Humbolt encounter (suitably armored) with Scott Cassell, who I have met several times. Fascinating creatures. It's not something you need to worry about in normal recreational diving areas, though.

cuttlefish and squid not the same??

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by MicahEW

cuttlefish and squid not the same??

Same general family, yes, same species, no. It's like comparing Octo's and Squid... same general family, clearly, but not the same type of critter. Cuttlefish are a third type.

And cuttlefish and Humbolt squid are nothing like the same thing. Cuttlefish are cute and neat. Humbolt squid are scary as heck. (The bigger ones, at least.)

[maggs_the]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

It's an adventure... far more of an adventure, if you ask me, than sitting in 8' of water in a shark cage lashed to the back of a boat.

ha!! but my momma already thinks i'm crazy just for diving period!! ha! no, i can't put this one off on mom.. i'd be skeered