Yosuke Tanaka and his wife Miki, diving instructors in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture (west), were tipped off by a fishing tackle vendor who had spotted the giant squid near the surface in a bay, and set off boat to meet him, near a rocky shore.
"There he was, a huge squid," Tanaka told AFP.
"It didn't have the nimble movements of a lot of fish and sea creatures," he added.
"Its tentacles and fins were moving very slowly."
The squid looked weak and bits of skin seemed to be peeling off its body, the diver observed.
The size of the animal and its huge eyes were striking, and Mr. Tanaka said he imagined seeing it how strong a squid must have been to attack a whale.
"I could see its tentacles moving. I thought it would be dangerous to get caught and carried away" by this creature, he added.
Giant squids are known to swim in the waters near Japan and sometimes wash up on its shores, but it is very rare to see them swimming in the sea.
Photo taken on January 6, 2023 and provided on January 19, 2023 by Yosuko Tanaka of Dive Resort T-style of a giant squid in Toyooka waters, western Japan © Handout / YOSUKE TANAKA/ DIVE RESORT T-STYLE /AFP
"It was thrilling. I think there are few things rarer" than this sight, Mr. Tanaka said, adding: "I have heard that not much is known about this creature . I'd be happy if it helps us learn more."
© 2023 AFP