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Journalism of Courage
For over a century, the colossal squid has occupied a shadowy space between science and myth — glimpsed only through scattered remains found in the bellies of sperm whales, or washed ashore in ghostly, half-digested pieces. But in April 2025, the elusive leviathan finally made a live appearance — and this time, the cameras were ready.
In a historic moment for deep-sea exploration, a 30cm-long (11.8-inch) juvenile colossal squid was filmed alive in its natural habitat at a depth of 600 metres (1,968 feet) in the waters near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. This marked the first verified in situ (at site) sighting of the species (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) since it was formally identified over 100 years ago.
The footage was captured by a team led by Dr Michelle Taylor of the University of Essex, who described the squid as “beautiful and unusual,” in a blog on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s website, adding that the team initially didn’t realise they had found a species of such significance. The expedition, conducted aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Falkor (too) research vessel, formed part of a 35-day mission to document new marine life in one of the most remote parts of the planet.
“It’s exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist,” wrote Dr Kat Bolstad, a world expert on deep-sea squid species who later confirmed the identification.
The colossal squid has long been a creature that stirred imaginations. It’s believed these animals can reach up to 7 metres in length and weigh as much as 500 kilograms — that’s nearly the size of a school bus and heavier than most grand pianos.
What sets them apart from their more famous cousin, the giant squid, are the rotating hooks that line the middle of their eight arms. It’s no wonder they’ve inspired so many sea monster stories . Until now, the only solid evidence of them came from bits and pieces found inside whales, hinting at deep-sea battles between two massive predators.
And even now, we know remarkably little about how they live, grow, or reproduce. Young ones, like the squid that was filmed this month, appear almost see-through and delicate. As they age, their bodies become tougher, and their features more alien. Although there have been reports of dying adults being caught accidentally by fishermen, this is the first time we’ve seen one alive — thriving in the deep.
As exciting as this sighting is, it raises even more questions. The Natural History Museum has often reminded us how hard it is to estimate how many of these creatures exist, or where exactly they live. As recently as 2022, scientists were still calling them “a species that straddles the line between legend and reality.”
There was a possible sighting in 2023, caught by chance on a camera attached to a polar cruise vessel. At the time, researchers were still reviewing the footage. Now, with this confirmed sighting, the mystery has taken a giant step toward becoming reality — even if many parts of the puzzle remain.
As deep-sea research continues to evolve, discoveries like this reinforce the ocean’s staggering biodiversity — and how little we truly know about its deepest reaches.
