Welcome to Steve Spangler Science. Skip directly to: main content, navigation, search box.

SQUIDY with 1 liter bottle

Cartesian diver that wears its own squid costume. It's Squidy!

  • SQUIDY with 1 liter bottle
    Item #: WCDS-400

    $3.99 In Stock

Usually ships out the next day.

Recommend for 6 to 7 years with adult supervision.

SQUIDY has become a classic science toy! This version of the Cartesian diver is cleverly disguised as a colorful squid affectionately called SQUIDY. Squeeze the plastic soda bottle and SQUIDY swims up and down in the bottle of water. Children can't help but ask, "How does that work?" The illustrated instructions show how to construct the Cartesian diver and explains the scientific principle behind its action. Recommended for children ages 6 and up.

SQUIDY without Bottle

What's included?

  • 1-Liter bottle with cap
  • 1 Pipette
  • 1 Hex nut
  • 1 Squidy

How does it work?

Squeeze the soda bottle and SQUIDY swims up and down in the water. The illustrated science activity guide shows how to construct the Cartesian diver and explains the scientific principle behind its action.

What does it teach?

Cartesian divers provide an amazing way to demonstrate and understand the science behind density and buoyancy. Discuss the properties of air and ask your kids to guess why SQUIDY sinks when air is forced into the bottle and floats when they let go.

Product FAQ

  • What size bottle can I put it in? 
    You can use any size bottle to take the Squidy swimming but 1 liter bottles are the easiest to hold on to.
  • What colors does the squidy come in?
    The original squidy has a red body with green tentacles.  There is also the option to make it all glow in the dark, in which case that squidy has a florescent color to it.

Warning - Choking Hazard

Kids love him!

Mom of 2 Boys    -  January 11, 2013

1 2 3 4 5
This user gave 4/5 stars


My son got one of these for Christmas. We followed the instructions and it works. After being in the 2-liter bottle for awhile, you will need to take him out and readjust the water level in him because he quits moving and sinks. You just have to squeeze him a little and when some of the extra water comes out he will work again. My kids love Squidy. My oldest will turn 8 soon and he is having a Mad Scientist party. We ordered some Squidies to use as a prize to take home. We will assemble them as our last science project and then each little scientist gets to take one home. We did a mix of the regular Squidy and the glow Squidy.

Fun project- squidy fell apart

Erin Dennis    -  September 4, 2012

1 2 3 4 5
This user gave 3/5 stars


This was a lot of fun. The kids loved it and so did I. We conducted similar projects on smaller scales using pipettes and different sized washers. When we put the squiddy into a center it slowly fell apart after a couple of weeks. The kids liked playing with it so much that I didn't have the heart to take it down and when I did- there was nothing left.

I Made One

Kayla Newland    -  June 9, 2012

1 2 3 4 5
This user gave 5/5 stars


I made one of the Cartesian Divers out of a pipet and hex nut. My little brohter(who is five)loves it. My little sister(who is three)loves it.
Thanks for the great idea!

Another great activity

Marlene Thomas    -  April 7, 2012

1 2 3 4 5
This user gave 5/5 stars


I wish my science teacher knew about all of Steve's experiments when I was in school. Squidy is simple yet keeps the kids interested. Doing these with the kids and a light bulb goes on in my head....now I get it! I'm hooked!

Squidy

Dawn    -  March 22, 2010

1 2 3 4 5
This user gave 5/5 stars


I bought this product for my son's birthday party. I like to have things early, so the party has not happened yet. I hope squidy survives until the party. We have had so much fun with this product. It's great fun and is already fostering a great love of science with my 5 year old son.