Octopus Lovers

[Roko]

Some more GPO photos from the Vancouver area..

My first good Octo photo, which was actually the first octo I saw outside of a deep crack. From a couple years back, under the Granthall at Porteau Cove. This one was BIG.


A juvenile GPO at Whytecliff park, out in the middle of the bay, from about a month ago.




Edit: Not really an octopus, but I'm more of a cephalopod lover myself.... Stubby Squid eggs I found last weekend! (Just gotta find an actual stubby squid now)

 

[Tjack]

Here is a Two-spotted Octopus (Octopus bimaculoides) from the Channel Islands, SoCal

 

[tracydr]

I'm only aware of two species in Cape Town: the Common Octopus (octopus vulgaris), which I believe you can find all over the Atlantic and Mediterranean; and the Brush-tipped Octopus (aphrodoctus schultzi), which is rare and endemic to South Africa. The one in that video is a Common Octopus. They get pretty big, arms up to a metre/ three feet long, but not nearly as large as GPOs. I've only seen a few (I'm terrible at spotting them when they're hiding); all of those have been a reddish-brown colour, but the colour varies (and they can change colour).

I'm not sure what species you might've seen in Pemba. I don't have any decent reference books for the western Indian Ocean, just a few fish ID slates. The only octopus on there is the White Spotted Octopus (octopus cyanea), but that doesn't seem to fit the bill: they're a bit smaller than the common octopus.

I bet it was the common octopus. It was at least three feet long, a lot like smaller GPO that I've seen. I wish I had the video that our group leader made. I didn't have a good enough camera ( no strobe) to take night pictures. We saw several, all at night and the largest was in a very shallow, grassy area.

 

[xyrandomyx]

A Common Octopus (octopus vulgaris), taken yesterday morning:



It's the first time I've managed to take a picture of one. It seemed interested in my camera, but not curious enough to get any further out of its hiding spot. I saw another two at the same site today, but all that was visible was an eye in a crevice.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

First dive for the new year! Woot! what a poser! After he so graciously let me shoot a few photos, he let me do closeups.

 

[dmoore19]

I am so jealous. 40 40 40

First dive for the new year! Woot! what a poser! After he so graciously let me shoot a few photos, he let me do closeups.

 

[TheWetRookie]

Was diving on the weekend at Ogden Break Water and found the largest octopus that I have ever seen. When the octopus fans out to catch its' prey, the webbing between the arms easily reaches 6 feet across. I am guessing this would be about a 10-12 foot or more octopus. Sweet!!!!

https://vimeo.com/85694219
[video=vimeo;85694219]https://vimeo.com/85694219[/video]

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

WOW!!! Impressive!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I was moseing along looking for macro stuff, when something moves below me.. I am a bit startled cause it was rather large... Hid under this rock.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Two divers in Carmel, California got a rare treat recently when a Giant Pacific Octopus took an interest in their cameras.
Giant Pacific octopus engages in wrestling match with photographer | GrindTV.com