Footage of squid find to air nationally
By Jessica Tuggle
jtuggle@hometownnewsol.com
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -- A rotund yellow submersible manufactured in Vero Beach went where no one has gone before to capture video of one of the ocean's most elusive creatures: the giant squid.
A Triton 3300/3 submarine, carrying a pilot and two passengers built by Triton Submarines in Vero Beach, outfitted with specialized low-light high-definition cameras snagged video of the sea creature in its natural habitat close to 2,000 feet below the surface.
The documentation and findings of the film crew and scientists were assembled by The Discovery Channel, NHK/NEP, the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation, and will air on the Discovery special, "Monster Squid: The Giant is Real" on Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT as the season finale of the series "Curiosity."
The footage was filmed last summer off the coast of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. The submarine, chartered from a Triton customer, was equipped with electronic lures, pheromone dispensers and the cameras and made 55 dives at depths close to 3,300 feet below the surface, a press release said.
Marc Deppe called the project "one of the most exciting marine science and natural history filmmaking events of our generation," and said he was proud of the role that Triton was able to play in making it happen.
Although the video was filmed on one of their creations and was piloted by veteran Triton pilot Jim Harris, the Triton team has yet to see the videos.
"We're going to watch the premiere of the show with the rest of the U.S.," Mr. Deppe said.
"Maybe we'll order some calamari to celebrate," he said with a laugh.
Triton Submarines creates submersible vehicles of various sizes, mostly for people who use them recreationally, but the president of Triton Submarines, Patrick Lahey, hopes more organizations will see the benefit of a Triton Submarine so the machines will be used for further scientific research and exploration.
"We need to do a better job of sharing the ocean with the world," said Mr. Lahey, in a press release.
"It is great to see Triton submersibles playing a role in introducing exciting new marine environments and species to a broad audience. We hope to have many more opportunities to work with Discovery Channel as there is an unexplored universe waiting for us in the deep ocean," he said.
For more information about Triton Submarines, visit www.tritonsubs.com.