Post by LSDeep on Feb 19, 2006 22:29:34 GMT -5
The most horrifying vision for a scuba diver is not the silent charge of a 20-foot great white shark.
No, it gets worse than that.
The ultimate nightmare of the deep is to encounter a pack of Humboldt squid and then face being devoured in a series of softball-chunk sized bites as they compete for each scrap.
These giant squid reach six feet and 180 pounds, armed with sucker discs with 25,000 to 60,000 teeth, as detailed in a Chronicle story a year ago (archived at sfgate.com). They have 10 tentacles, including two long tentacles they use to pull their prey in to their razor-sharp beaks. They school in roaming hordes and then gang up to swarm in feeding frenzies. When set off, they will even eat each other and anything else in their path.
They have returned for a second straight year off the Bay Area coast this winter, roaming the marine seamounts, often 400 to 2,000 feet deep.
A report has been confirmed that that a group called Seawolves Unlimited has not only led dives amid the Humboldt squid, but has filmed the encounters and attacks.
"In order to safely dive with the Humboldt squid, they use diver protection platforms and wear armored wet suits," said Craig Buttner, who previewed the film.
At one point, you can see squid try to eat a scuba diver, but are repelled when they clasp onto the armor, Buttner said.
The 45-minute video now in post-production will be shown for the first time at a free seminar called "Dancing With The Demons." The event is scheduled March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Millbrae, 10 minutes south of the San Francisco Airport, at the New Vision United Methodist Church at 450 Chadbourne.
Buttner says it's a clear, high resolution copy shot in the crystal waters in the Sea of Cortez. I'll be getting a copy as soon as available to provide a synopsis.
The show is sponsored by the Northern California Underwater Photographic Society. Info, directions and underwater pics at ncups.org.
Outdoor notes of note
Wildlife tales: "While driving near Dixon, I saw a jackrabbit sitting upright in an alfalfa field. A red-tailed hawk was circling and then dove straight for the rabbit. Just before the hawk made contact, the bunny jumped up and knocked the hawk out of the air with its hind legs. They sat on the ground staring at each other for a few seconds before the rabbit slowly hopped away, leaving the bird sitting on the ground. Truth is stranger than fiction!" -- Paul Pierce, San Leandro.
Hunter safety on-line: The Department of Fish and Game posted a new hunter education course online this past week. Check it out at dfg.ca.gov/huntered. Those who complete the course can then be certified with a four-hour course with an instructor. (916) 653-1235. I've passed this along to the vice president.
Scouts honored: Scouts and adults from Boy Scout Troop 1 on last year's lightning-marred trek in the high Sierra will receive the highest award of heroism awarded by the Boy Scouts, the Medal of Honor With Crossed Palms. This award is given to Scouts who show heroism, resourcefulness and skill by saving or trying to save a life at the risk of their own. Troop 1, from St. Helena, was hit by lightning, killing Scout Ryan Collins and Assistant Scoutmaster Stephen McCullagh. The event will take place the evening of March 3 at the Walnut Creek Marriott. $40. Reservation info at execsec@bsa-mdsc.org.
Power shift?: Michael Flores, who said he'll do more to represent anglers and hunters, will get his chance after being elected president of the California Fish and Game Commission for 2006. Flores' first assignment should be requiring the DFG to stock more trout at lakes in the Bay Area and Northern California.
Act locally: In Santa Cruz, the county parks department is putting together a plan to preserve and bolster small forests to provide additional wind shelter for the area's magnificent flights of monarch butterflies.
Civil war: Five hundred former national park employees have formed a coalition urging Congress to take the idea to allow commercial advertising and sponsorship in national parks and throw it, and anybody who supports it, out the door.
On the inside: The Bush Administration quietly agreed to support a request of $3 million for the National Fish Habitat Action Plan next year with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The vision is to create partnerships between federal agencies and local departments, and is being jump-started this year with $1 million.
Trout wars: With the folks at Urban Parks Concessionaire out at Del Valle Reservoir, you can bet they will do everything possible at San Pablo Res., where they still run the show, to dominate the Bay Area trout fishing scene. (530) 223-1661.
The wife factor: Boat dealers say that wives have the hammer when it comes to families buying boats. The way it has worked for years is that the guy finds the boat, and then the wife then OKs or vetoes it. In today's era, when a guy wants a boat, the first question the dealer asks is, "Are you married?" If the answer is yes, the dealer wants the wife's participation (and their children's) from the start for the best chance to close a deal.
Cowboy lore: The old yarn about how cowboys back in the day would circle their camps with rope to keep the rattlesnakes out -- the snakes wouldn't risk scratching their bellies -- drew some clever notes. "I've seen a tarantula walk straight through last night's still smoldering campfire in Texas," wrote Richard Weston of Fairfax. Joe Chew added: "The best protection against rattlesnakes is a crotchety old chuck-wagon cook who wakes you up with the four clicks of a Colt Peacekeeper and the whispered suggestion that you hold real still (also works for scorpions)."
Carson Falls, Cataract Falls, and camping at Mt. Tam on "Great Outdoors With Tom Stienstra" tonight at 6:30 on Channel 44, Bay Area cable 12. E-mail Tom Stienstra at tstienstra@sfchronicle.com.
No, it gets worse than that.
The ultimate nightmare of the deep is to encounter a pack of Humboldt squid and then face being devoured in a series of softball-chunk sized bites as they compete for each scrap.
These giant squid reach six feet and 180 pounds, armed with sucker discs with 25,000 to 60,000 teeth, as detailed in a Chronicle story a year ago (archived at sfgate.com). They have 10 tentacles, including two long tentacles they use to pull their prey in to their razor-sharp beaks. They school in roaming hordes and then gang up to swarm in feeding frenzies. When set off, they will even eat each other and anything else in their path.
They have returned for a second straight year off the Bay Area coast this winter, roaming the marine seamounts, often 400 to 2,000 feet deep.
A report has been confirmed that that a group called Seawolves Unlimited has not only led dives amid the Humboldt squid, but has filmed the encounters and attacks.
"In order to safely dive with the Humboldt squid, they use diver protection platforms and wear armored wet suits," said Craig Buttner, who previewed the film.
At one point, you can see squid try to eat a scuba diver, but are repelled when they clasp onto the armor, Buttner said.
The 45-minute video now in post-production will be shown for the first time at a free seminar called "Dancing With The Demons." The event is scheduled March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Millbrae, 10 minutes south of the San Francisco Airport, at the New Vision United Methodist Church at 450 Chadbourne.
Buttner says it's a clear, high resolution copy shot in the crystal waters in the Sea of Cortez. I'll be getting a copy as soon as available to provide a synopsis.
The show is sponsored by the Northern California Underwater Photographic Society. Info, directions and underwater pics at ncups.org.
Outdoor notes of note
Wildlife tales: "While driving near Dixon, I saw a jackrabbit sitting upright in an alfalfa field. A red-tailed hawk was circling and then dove straight for the rabbit. Just before the hawk made contact, the bunny jumped up and knocked the hawk out of the air with its hind legs. They sat on the ground staring at each other for a few seconds before the rabbit slowly hopped away, leaving the bird sitting on the ground. Truth is stranger than fiction!" -- Paul Pierce, San Leandro.
Hunter safety on-line: The Department of Fish and Game posted a new hunter education course online this past week. Check it out at dfg.ca.gov/huntered. Those who complete the course can then be certified with a four-hour course with an instructor. (916) 653-1235. I've passed this along to the vice president.
Scouts honored: Scouts and adults from Boy Scout Troop 1 on last year's lightning-marred trek in the high Sierra will receive the highest award of heroism awarded by the Boy Scouts, the Medal of Honor With Crossed Palms. This award is given to Scouts who show heroism, resourcefulness and skill by saving or trying to save a life at the risk of their own. Troop 1, from St. Helena, was hit by lightning, killing Scout Ryan Collins and Assistant Scoutmaster Stephen McCullagh. The event will take place the evening of March 3 at the Walnut Creek Marriott. $40. Reservation info at execsec@bsa-mdsc.org.
Power shift?: Michael Flores, who said he'll do more to represent anglers and hunters, will get his chance after being elected president of the California Fish and Game Commission for 2006. Flores' first assignment should be requiring the DFG to stock more trout at lakes in the Bay Area and Northern California.
Act locally: In Santa Cruz, the county parks department is putting together a plan to preserve and bolster small forests to provide additional wind shelter for the area's magnificent flights of monarch butterflies.
Civil war: Five hundred former national park employees have formed a coalition urging Congress to take the idea to allow commercial advertising and sponsorship in national parks and throw it, and anybody who supports it, out the door.
On the inside: The Bush Administration quietly agreed to support a request of $3 million for the National Fish Habitat Action Plan next year with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The vision is to create partnerships between federal agencies and local departments, and is being jump-started this year with $1 million.
Trout wars: With the folks at Urban Parks Concessionaire out at Del Valle Reservoir, you can bet they will do everything possible at San Pablo Res., where they still run the show, to dominate the Bay Area trout fishing scene. (530) 223-1661.
The wife factor: Boat dealers say that wives have the hammer when it comes to families buying boats. The way it has worked for years is that the guy finds the boat, and then the wife then OKs or vetoes it. In today's era, when a guy wants a boat, the first question the dealer asks is, "Are you married?" If the answer is yes, the dealer wants the wife's participation (and their children's) from the start for the best chance to close a deal.
Cowboy lore: The old yarn about how cowboys back in the day would circle their camps with rope to keep the rattlesnakes out -- the snakes wouldn't risk scratching their bellies -- drew some clever notes. "I've seen a tarantula walk straight through last night's still smoldering campfire in Texas," wrote Richard Weston of Fairfax. Joe Chew added: "The best protection against rattlesnakes is a crotchety old chuck-wagon cook who wakes you up with the four clicks of a Colt Peacekeeper and the whispered suggestion that you hold real still (also works for scorpions)."
Carson Falls, Cataract Falls, and camping at Mt. Tam on "Great Outdoors With Tom Stienstra" tonight at 6:30 on Channel 44, Bay Area cable 12. E-mail Tom Stienstra at tstienstra@sfchronicle.com.
