Gorgeous Giant Squid Captured On Video In U.S. Waters For The First Time

He's huge 😲

For centuries, seafarers spoke of a terrifying monster of the deep — a giant squid known to attack ships and devour their crews.

Thankfully, now we know better.

Wikimedia

Biologists have come to understand that, not only do such animals indeed exist, they aren’t the fearsome monsters depicted in legend. In fact, newly released underwater footage proves quite the opposite.

Last week, a team of researchers were exploring the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, off the U.S. coast, when a surprise visitor appeared in front of their deep-sea rover.

It was a rare sighting of a giant squid — the first captured on video in U.S. waters.

Here’s that stunning footage:

The squid, believed to be around 10 to 12 feet long, is seen approaching the unmanned vessel with curiosity. Realizing the submarine was not a meal, the squid quickly moved away — betraying the myth that these creatures would sink ships and eat people.

In a post on the discovery, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research notes that the find was made in the vicinity of oil rigs, “among the heaviest tools of our energy infrastructure” — posing a bigger threat to him than the squid would to any human.

In the end, dangers are lurking in the depths. Dangers of our own design.

And as for the squid?

“We did not find a monster,” the post reads. “Our perspective as humans has changed. 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, making the world less scary and more wondrous with each new thing we learn.”