Cephalopods are a class of marine mollusks that includes octopus, nautilus, cuttlefish and squid. All of these creatures rank among the most intelligent creatures on the planet. Cephalopods have the most advanced nervous systems of all invertebrates, and many are known for their incredible ability to change their skin color and blend instantly into the background or produce a startling array of patterns and hues for communication.
Octopuses appeared on our planet about 500 million years ago. Now, they live in all the oceans of the world. There are at least 800 living species, but surprisingly we have only been able to thoroughly study a few of them.
Epic tales told throughout history have characterized octopuses as sea monsters, terrorizing unsuspecting sailors and attacking them with their ink. This is actually quite a funny take on these creatures, as most species are small, nocturnal and generally harder to spot than other marine species.
There are a few true stories of octopuses that have amazed the public, especially in recent years. Marine biologists and aquariums worldwide have reported impressive skills and learning displayed by octopi, with reports on octopuses taking photographs of divers, and an octopus trying to escape its tank at Seattle Aquarium.
Surprisingly, these incredible ocean-dwelling animals can be fairly common to encounter on dives in specific regions. Here are some of the best dives for your chance to catch a glimpse.
1. Mabul, Malaysia – Blue-Ringed Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus, or BRO for short, is at the top of the list for macro underwater photographers, since it is a small mollusk that can fit into the palm of your hand. Even with their arms extended, they can be as small as two inches. This species is also famous for being the only lethal octopus known to man.
This octopus is named and categorized by the number of rings it possesses and are generally split into two types; for example, the lesser blue-ringed octopus and the greater blue-tinged octopus are the most common types.
This is the only octopus to contain the toxin tetrodotoxin, which is also found in pufferfish and cone snails, and they use it for self-defense. However, it has been said that as little as 1 milligram of toxin can kill a human, and there is no known antidote.
Seaventures Dive Rig is a great location to take your time and get an amazing image of the blue-ringed octopus because of it’s ‘house reef’ or reef located directly off-shore from the resort. Their house reef which is famous for its sunken wrecks, cage swims and artificial bungalows. To increase your chances of capturing one on camera: relax, don’t rush it, and move slowly around the reef.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Seaventures Dive Rig
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2. Anilao, Philippines – Wonderpus
Wunderpus photogenicus, the wunderpus octopus, is a small-bodied species of octopus, colored orange-brown or red-brown in color, with sharply defined white spots on its body and white bars on its arms. The name ‘Wunderpus’ comes from the German word “wunder”, meaning ‘marvel or wonder’.
Interestingly, the wonderpus octopus was discovered by scientists fairly recently, and, since it doesn’t live for long in captivity, there’s still much that is unknown about this creature. We do know that their colors and pattern become more dramatic when the animal is alarmed.
Two theories have been proposed to explain why the wonderpus octopus developed its dramatic and prominent appearance. One theory suggests that the octopus is mimicking dangerous banded animals like sea snakes and lionfish as a form of protection against predators. Another theory says that it’s warning predators that it’s toxic.
The wunderpus lives in burrows on the ocean floor, either dug by itself or previously by another animal. The organism emerges from its home to feed at dusk and at dawn by swimming or by using its arms to perform a walking motion over the ocean bottom. For this reason, we definitely recommend night diving to catch a glimpse!
The Blue Ribbon Dive Resort is a perfect spot for trying your luck at spotting a wunderpus octopus. Anilao is one of the top muck diving destinations in the world, with hundreds of different macro critters to be seen and photographed! There is also a great selection of coral reef dive sites.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Blue Ribbon Dive Resort
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3. Tawali, Papua New Guinea – Mimic Octopus
Due to the appearance and behavior of the mimic octopus, it is frequently confused with its close relative, the wunderpus octopus. The background color of a mimic octopus is often dark brown or black, while the wonderpus species generally has a light-brown background tinged with orange or red.
The ability of the mimic octopus to pose as other creatures is truly astounding! So far, scientists have observed these creatures impersonating fifteen other animals, including fish, jellyfish, brittle stars, sea anemones, crabs, and shrimp. Intriguingly, it chooses an appropriate animal to mimic in order to protect itself from a specific predator.
To mimic a poisonous flatfish, the octopus swims with its arms held together and streaming behind it and its body flattened. To mimic a toxic sea snake, it partially enters a burrow, leaving just two of its arms visible. It can swim in open water and change its movement style, suspending its arms in the water to resemble the dangerous fins of a lionfish.
The mimic octopus can almost instantaneously change its color and the texture of its skin to help make its impersonations effective. Some octopuses can change color to merge with their background, but the mimic octopus is the first one known to mimic other creatures. Unlike the wonderpus octopus, Thaumoctopus mimicus is active during the day, so its excellent ability to impersonate other animals is very helpful for its survival.
Tawali Lesisure and Dive Resort is a beautiful spot to hope for an interaction with a mimic octopus, as diving landscapes include pinnacles, coral covered walls, and muck diving. There are also many impressive remote islands to explore during your surface interval.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort
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4. Sulawesi, Indonesia – Coconut Octopus
Amphioctopus marginatus, called commonly by the names ‘coconut octopus’ and ‘veined octopus’, is a medium-sized cephalopod and is found in tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean.
The coconut octopus gets its unique name from the way it makes dens out of discarded and hollowed out coconut shells found in muddy waters along the coastal seafloor. Funnily, most of the images you’ll find of these octopuses are on or inside of coconut shells, so the name is very fitting.
Lembeh Dive Resort & Spa is a beautiful resort to stay while trying your luck at spotting a coconut octopus. Your surface interval will be spent perched on a lush green hillside in Lembeh, North Sulawesi.
Lembeh Straits are also known world-wide as a haven for muck and macro diving. You may also see hairy frogfish, mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, squid, soft coral crabs and more amongst the sandy ocean floor. Conditions are ideal for new and experienced photographers.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Lembeh Dive Resort & Spa
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5. Canary Islands, Spain – Common Octopus
Common Octopus | Courtesy of Chelsea Bennice
The common octopus is, unsurprisingly, the most common mollusc belonging to the class Cephalopoda. Correctly named, Octopus vulgaris is the most studied of all octopus species. In fact, it has been studied so in-depth, that in recent years, researchers have proposed up to 10 separate groups within the common octopus “species complex.”
The common octopus isn’t altogether common in its appearance, with its massive bulbous head, large eyes, and eight distinctive arms. But by far the most striking characteristic of this octopus is the wide array of techniques it uses to avoid or baffle attackers: camouflage, ink, and evasive behavior.
Holiday Club Puerto Calma is a brilliant resort for sightings of octopi, as well as a host of many other types of marine life, namely stingrays, wrasse, trumpet fish, bream, which are mainly found on the stunning wrecks and reefs within the local area.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Holiday Club Puerto Calma
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6. Vancouver Island, Canada – Giant Pacific Octopus
The giant Pacific octopus, correctly named, grows larger and lives longer than any other octopus species on our planet. The largest recorded octopus of this species was 30 feet across and weighed more than 600 pounds-the makings of nightmares! Luckily, the size averages are more like 16 feet and 110 lbs. These giant creatures live to be about four years old, with both males and females dying soon after breeding.
Giant Pacific octopuses are equipped with large, bulbous heads and are generally reddish-brown in color. Much like other octopi, they use special pigment cells in their skin to change colors and textures, and can blend in with the sophisticated patterns of corals, plants, and rocks. These octopuses are highly intelligent and have learned to open jars, mimic other octopuses, and even solve mazes in lab tests!
With it’s year-round cold water, Vancouver is known as an octopus garden! And the best diving in British Columbia is in winter, when the summer plankton bloom that causes turbid water is gone.
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7. Cayman Islands – Atlantic Pygmy Octopus
Atlantic Pygmy Octopus | Courtesy of iNaturalist
Pygmy octopuses inhabit Florida, across the Gulf of Mexico, and to parts of the Caribbean. As indicated by the word pygmy, these octopi are quite small. Their body only reaches a maximum length of about 15 cm.
They generally live in empty shells, crevices, or holes in reefs. They are solitary, although they do form intraspecies social hierarchies based on their size — the larger individuals have access to better food (mostly crabs and snails) and habitat.
Like most octopus species, they are adept at camouflage, blending in with the surrounding rocks by changing their color. Once threatened, their primary form of self defense involves distracting and blinding their predators with ink.
Compass Point Dive Resort is the perfect dive resort to enjoy the company of pygmy octopuses, because there is a surprising amount of biodiversity to be found in the crystal clear waters surrounding the resort. Expect to dive, surrounded by brain corals and sea fans, while spotting countless colorful creatures like angelfish, several species of rays and, of course, octopi.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Compass Point Dive Resort
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8. Bonaire – Caribbean Reef Octopus
The Caribbean reef octopus is known as a master of disguise. These amazing creatures can completely change their color from one moment to the next using specialized color cells called chromatophores. A camouflaged Caribbean reef octopus can be nearly impossible to see.
These octopuses are foraging predators on coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea. They eat mostly invertebrates, such as clams, large marine snails, crabs, and lobsters; however, they are also known to occasionally be cannibalistic and eat individuals of the same species after defending territory against an intruder. Most hunting occurs during the night, when the Caribbean reef octopus can crawl around the reef without being attacked by predators. For this reason, we recommend night diving!
Buddy Dive Resort is well-known in the dive community as a shore diving heaven. In Bonaire, you can expect to dive with octopi, hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles, seahorses, angelfish, tangs, sergeant majors, creole wrasse and butterfly fish.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: Buddy Dive Resort
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Octopuses are unique creatures, and apparently, the more we study them, the more they amaze us. And we’re probably only just scratching the surface. Diving with an octopus is definitely a diving bucket list item.
Ready to dive? Browse all the available dive resorts, liveaboards and day trips on PADI Travel.
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