Scuba Geek

Giant Squid Ecotourism Trips Draw Scuba Divers to Mexico�s Sea of Cortez February 15, 2006

Posted by Andy Carroll in : Photography , trackback

I received this press release today, and it interested me enough to help get the word out, although the video I’m not too sure about as it does not seem to me that the scuba divers are treating these creatures with respect.

The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society are conducting a seminar, �Dancing with the Demons,� a 90-minute presentation about scuba diving with the Giant Humboldt Squid of Mexico�s Sea of Cortez. This presentation will also feature the premier of the 45-minute, never-before-seen, high-resolution documentary �Demonio Rojo,� (Red Demon), produced by Dale Pearson and Scott Cassell of San Diego�s Seawolves Unlimited, the only ecotourism company in world that offers scuba diving trips to dive with the most dangerous and unpredictable sea creature on Earth. A 60-second video exerpt from �Demonio Rojo� can be found at http://209.242.151.5/seawolves/dancingwithdemons.wmv

With a legendary ferocity, the Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas), which grow to over six feet in length and weigh over 180-pounds, are armed with huge sucker disks lined with over 60,000 teeth that can shred a wetsuit, and their knife-edged beak can gouge out a softball-sized chunk of flesh in 3 seconds. Combined with their extraordinary intelligence and wolf pack-like hunting abilities, keeping an upper hand while scuba diving with these animals is a challenge. These magnificent cephalopods feed on nearly every animal they encounter, including sharks, pelagic fish, krill, mammals, other squid (they are fierce cannibals), and even man. In order to safely dive with the Humboldt Squid, Seawolves Unlimited uses diver protection platforms, chain maille-covered and/or custom-made armored wet suits, and other systems to safely peer into the lair of one of Earth�s most mysterious creatures.
The �Dancing with the Demons,� seminar will take place on Friday, March 10, 2006, at 7:30 p.m.
Location: New Vision United Methodist Church, 450 Chadbourne Avenue, Millbrae, CA 94030 � located only ten minutes south of the San Francisco International Airport.