Greetings, Scubaboarders.
Today, after 4+ years of diving the Monterey / Carmel area (California), I finally got to see a giant Pacific octopus. It's been hanging out in a hole at a commonly dived local site for the last week or so, and the boat I usually dive took us there today in the hope that we would find it.
The octopus was secluded deep in a crack, but I was able to make eye contact with it (until my HID caused it, understandably, to close its eye). The large end of one tentacle was close to the exit from the crack, and I would guess that the largest sucker disk on that tentacle was nearly two inches across. I think that would probably make the entire animal about 8 feet long.
I'm one who finds even a 5' viz dive with no interesting wildlife to be stimulating; this was a thrill that ranked with my other top two dive experiences (seeing a shark while diving solo mid-week at our most commonly used beginners' beach, and the Kona manta ray night dive). A great day!
Today, after 4+ years of diving the Monterey / Carmel area (California), I finally got to see a giant Pacific octopus. It's been hanging out in a hole at a commonly dived local site for the last week or so, and the boat I usually dive took us there today in the hope that we would find it.
The octopus was secluded deep in a crack, but I was able to make eye contact with it (until my HID caused it, understandably, to close its eye). The large end of one tentacle was close to the exit from the crack, and I would guess that the largest sucker disk on that tentacle was nearly two inches across. I think that would probably make the entire animal about 8 feet long.
I'm one who finds even a 5' viz dive with no interesting wildlife to be stimulating; this was a thrill that ranked with my other top two dive experiences (seeing a shark while diving solo mid-week at our most commonly used beginners' beach, and the Kona manta ray night dive). A great day!
I owe you a few for getting me close to a few of my faves. 
