Watch as couple come face to face with rare giant squid while diving off Japan
This is the incredible moment a couple came across a rare giant squid whilst scuba diving in the waters of west Japan.
The squid was more than 8ft long, with video showing the divers getting extremely close to the animal.
Diving instructor Yosuke Tanaka, 41, and his wife Miki, 34, were on a day trip when a fishing equipment salesman told them about sightings of the elusive beast skulking off the coast of Toyooka City.
The pair went with local instructors and were amazed when the enormous creature emerged after just 30 minutes of their pursuit for the animal.
Seeing a giant squid in the wild is extremely rare with only a few sightings being reported. Most of the time they are witnessed dead and washed up on beaches
The size of the squid that Tanaka and Miki found was quite small (2.5 meters) compared to the length of a full size giant squid which can be up to 13 meters long
Marine experts say it is rare for such large squids to appear close to the shore, but footage from Yosuke's underwater camera shows how the pink squid seems was oblivious to the divers.
The sheer enormity of the squids eyes was enough to get Tanaka's mind to think about how dangerous this creature is and how it could ensnare a whale, which is among its main predators, with its powerful tentacles.
'I could see its tentacles moving. I thought it would be dangerous to be grabbed hard by them and taken off somewhere,' he said.
The squid in the video appears sluggish with veils of loose skin hanging from its body suggesting that that the squid was weak.
The usual habitat of the giant squid is deep underwater where no light can be seen. They are found in every ocean on our planet
The squid appeared sluggish and slow with skin hanging from its torso. The two divers were able to get so close with fear of harm
'I could see its tentacles moving. I thought it would be dangerous to be grabbed hard by them and taken off somewhere,' Tinaka explained.
'We swam together and took pictures. I was so happy that the squid was within my reach but its eyes were so big. It was so big that I started to feel scared.' Miki told press.
An honorary researcher at the National Museum of Nature and Science Tsunemi Kubodera said that it is rare for a giant squid from the deep sea to be swimming along the coast.
Whilst giant squid are known to live in the waters of Japan, and even wash up on shore sometimes, seeing them alive in the wild is an extremely rare occurrence as the their natural habitat is deep underwater.
The researcher said that it is a medium-sized mature squid and is believed to be between one and two years old.
Tinaka said the experience would be with him for a long time.
'It was very exciting. I think there is nothing rarer than this,' he said. 'I have heard not a lot is known about this creature. I'd be happy if this helps us learn more.'
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