Captured on video by the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated submersible SuBastian, this is the first ever video of a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its natural habitat. The juvenile squid was filmed at a depth of 600m in the South Sandwich Islands (I love sandwiches) about 1,100 miles northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Just look at that thing! The squids are estimated to grow to over 1,300 pounds, making them the largest extant invertebrates, and have the largest eyes of any animal to exist– measuring up to 16-inches. Damn, those are some beach balls! And I thought I had googly eyes. At least I’m not a colossal squid. “You do have a droopy eyelid though.” I do, and thank you for pointing it out.

Thanks to my dad, who agrees the ocean is best viewed from a lounge chair on a cruise ship. To the buffet!