DEEP-SEA HORROR

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1932, Page 7

DEEP-SEA HORROR

CUTTLEFISH ATTACKS DIVER.

SAVED BY COOLNESS

WELLINGTON, November 7

From deep cea diver to farmer. Front groping for sunken wrecks in the dlim twilight of forty or fifty fathoms to minting his cows in the early morning with tlie song of birds as an accompaniment to the swish oi milk in the pails. Such has been the experience of Mr “Jim” .Wilson, a diver of many years’ experience, who is., how living in the Auckland district. • ..! Ini I-

Mr Wilson has done work: * recently at Arapuni and for the Harbour (Board, ( but, needless to say, this cannot'com 1 " pare v for thrills with work in deep water, where there is ai|vays danger for the elements, and, still worse, the possibility of being attacked by a giant octopus or gripped l by a huge clam—a creature shaped exactly like the New Zealand scollop, hut anything up to 10ft-. in-diameter! Curiously enough, the latter is not. greatly feared by the skilled diver-, who (provided, of course, his arms are clear) simply proceeds to smash the shell with his axe, -but even the hardiest member of the profession shudders when he recalls an experience with the big octopus or cuttlefish.

■Such an adventure—if anything eo nightmarish can possibly he termed an adventure—befbll Mr Wilson soon after the war, when ho was diving for the Navy in search for a German submarine sunk in Lough Svvilly, a great,, gulf in the coast of Ireland. •; "It was in 47 fathoms of water,” said Mr Wilson, “and diving conditions at-that depth are always a bit risky, however perfect the weather conditions. I soon found the wreck, and I began to search tor a suitable place by which to enter. As I plodded round the bows of thei ‘sub’ I suddenly became aware of a dim presence hanging in the water over me, for all the world like a cloud. Then I saw two cold, evil-looking eyes, and made out the bqdy and swaying tentacles of r. giant cuttlefish. The body was from 10ft. to loft, in diameter, 'and tlu tantacles up to 15 or more feet in length. “Fortunately, I ‘kept my nut,’ as the saying is, but it was an awful feeling I felt in the pit of the stomach, I’ll tell you. Every diver is warned while undergoing his early training about the big cuttlefish, and he always carries ai big knife handy on his belt. This was the first occasion 1 had encountered 1 an octopus of any size. As he settled over me, gently and softly enveloping me, I slashed him right across the lower part of the body. It funny what happened then. He slowly released m« and floated away. When the ink clearer 1 (an octopus emits an inky fluid to obscure its victim’s sight) I gave the signal to be raised to the surface. J did no more diving that day.”