WATCH: Divers Get Up Close And Personal With A Rare Giant Squid

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to go diving, you realize that you never quite know what you will see.

Even if you only have a mediocre day, you will likely see something beautiful. At times, you may even be in for a surprise.

That is what happened to Yosuke Tanaka and Miki as they were diving off the coast of Japan. According to Science Alert, they have their own scuba diving business, so they are accustomed to seeing unusual items below the surface, but this one took them by surprise.

When Yosuke spoke with Newsweek, she said she was both excited and terrified. After all, they had run into a giant squid (Architeuthis dux), and its arms were massive. She was afraid that if she got caught, she wouldn’t be able to escape.

We still have a lot to learn about giant squid, although some have washed up on beaches around the world. Dead squid can teach us some about the species. Seeing a giant squid alive and in person is extraordinary.

This particular squid was near the surface of the water, but typically, they are found at depths of up to 3,000 feet or more. It was unusual, and it seemed as if the skin on the squid was damaged to a certain extent.

The giant squid they filmed was about 8 feet long. The largest ever documented was 43 feet, so this giant squid was small by comparison.

The giant squid should not be confused with the colossal squid, which is similar but different. The colossal squid has eyes that can measure up to 11 inches and live at greater depths.

Regardless of how big this squid was, it certainly was giant compared to the diver. I’m sure it is a story she will remember for the rest of her life.