This bears repeating: the largest giant squid that ever washed up was 59 feet long. Look at the picture in the article, and then extrapolate to 59 feet. Is it really surprising at all that we have kraken myths? EDIT: also, look at the picture and then reread the last line of the article -- "So when I saw it, well, it looked to me like it was rather lonely." Great quote, very poignantly exposed the beauty of nature. Love these creatures; we're living in science fiction these days, folks. EDIT2: badged the shit out of this because I'm so happy about it.
I feel your excitement about this. My old teacher used to talk a lot about the sea and how we know so little about it. I was also so fascinated with the idea that we have never seen a Giant Squid in its natural environment so when my friend told me they took a picture of it, I immediately went to the internet to look for it. I love everything about the picture, love the idea of the squid going further down and being surrounded by darkness.