I hear the same statement time and time again, " i can never find octopus, how do you do it?" The reason most people do not see octopus is that they are looking for an octopus! These creatures are masters of disquise, in both colour and shape, have better eye site than we do, probably know you are coming long before they see you. But they are creatures of habit, learn their habits and the octopus you will find. First, the occupy dens, different species have different style dens, some use rock and coral, some like sand burrows, others cant resist a clay pot or an old bivalve shell. All octopus leave signs, it is hard to hide last nights dinner, look for crab legs laying around, old shells piled up for no reason, any thing that seems out of the usual. Then learn the specific behaviours of species. For example the Day Octopus in Maui is very commonly followed around by a species of Goatfish. The goatfish is easy to see, if its tendrils on its chin are straight down over a coral head, bingo, an octopus is in the coral head. Why the goatfish is waiting for the octopus to find food so that it can steal it. I admit, it is very hard to find an octopus, but by learning the habits of a species, you will look like a pro in no time.
