Well, they’ve finally done it:

Japanese scientists have pulled off a major coup by getting the first snaps of a live giant squid – 900 metres beneath the surface of the North Pacific. The elusive monster Architeuthis – which measures up to 18 metres – was previously known only by examples washed up on beaches or captured in fishing nets, Reuters reports.

Kubodera and Mori also suggest that the giant squid is “much more active predator” than previously thought, so perhaps those tales told by old Tars of tall ships being dragged down to Davy Jones’ locker by multi-limbed sea monsters are not so fanciful after all.

The squid was caught on film in 2004 off of Japan’s Bonin Islands.

More on Architeuthis here and here.