Caribbean Reef Octopus

[ktuli]

Caribbean Reef Octopus (Octopus briareus)



- Bill

[Ziggy]

Nice capture. Have done a lot of diving and Octopus always amaze me how quickly they can change colors and blend with the environment.

[Urbanflyer]

wow--makes me want to get over my dislike for being under water!

[ktuli]

Nice capture. Have done a lot of diving and Octopus always amaze me how quickly they can change colors and blend with the environment.

Jim,

Thanks for the compliment. I hope this reminded you of good diving memories!

For anyone else wondering what Jim is talking about, here is a pair of photos taken less than a second apart... notice the massive color change between the two. I wish I had a couple that showed the shift in skin texture they are also able to do. Truly impressive creatures!





- Bill

[ktuli]

wow--makes me want to get over my dislike for being under water!

Judith, you really should. There is nothing quite like scuba diving.

- Bill

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[IzzieK]

Interesting shots...I have to take my mind off fear of these creatures...how big are they?

[bnnrcn]

I agree Bill I did scuba diving for 4 years in the past and if I move to the south of Turkey one day I will certainly start diving again. Thanks also for sharing those images.

Judith, you really should. There is nothing quite like scuba diving.

- Bill

[Mike Buckley]

All I can think of is how much I want to cook and eat it!

Thanks for the explanation that it changes color and texture. I had no idea!

[Sam W]

Great shots - Must have been fun to take them.

[ktuli]

Nicely captured.

Thanks, John!

Interesting shots...I have to take my mind off fear of these creatures...how big are they?

Izzie, there is absolutely nothing to fear here - these guys are usually more afraid of divers than anything, and will usually retreat into the reef after a few minutes (unless you get really lucky and get a bolder one!). As for size, that's a tricky question. For most of the time we saw this one, it was maybe about the size of a soccer ball (futbol) as it moved around the reef. However, at the end of its time with us, it vanished into a hole about the size of a golf ball. They can change their size and shape, and do so with pretty impressive results.

I agree Bill I did scuba diving for 4 years in the past and if I move to the south of Turkey one day I will certainly start diving again. Thanks also for sharing those images.

Why wait? I live in a landlocked part of the United States, and we simply make a point to get to a good diving location as often as possible (which usually means once a year if we're lucky!).

All I can think of is how much I want to cook and eat it!

Thanks for the explanation that it changes color and texture. I had no idea!

BOOOO!!! Fish (and cephalopods for that matter) are friends!

Great shots - Must have been fun to take them.

Thanks, Sam! Yes - it is among my most favorite things to do. I wish I could do so more often. Perhaps some day I will retire to some tropical island!

- Bill

[IzzieK]

All I can think of is how much I want to cook and eat it!

Thanks for the explanation that it changes color and texture. I had no idea!

One of my failures in cooking something is cooking large octopus...In Melbourne they have a fine restaurant that also have a takeaway and I just order them and eat up. I love seafood.

[IzzieK]

Izzie, there is absolutely nothing to fear here - these guys are usually more afraid of divers than anything, and will usually retreat into the reef after a few minutes (unless you get really lucky and get a bolder one!). As for size, that's a tricky question. For most of the time we saw this one, it was maybe about the size of a soccer ball (futbol) as it moved around the reef. However, at the end of its time with us, it vanished into a hole about the size of a golf ball. They can change their size and shape, and do so with pretty impressive results.

National Geo traumatized me with their size...and stories in cartoons...I prefer Salt and Pepper Calamari instead, already dead and ready to eat....

[bnnrcn]

As you already mentioned that you can dive only once a year, it is difficult to dive very often if you live away from nice diving locations Bill and I also prefer to go holidays for shooting for the time being. But if I live in the south one day, there will be more opportunity as there are a lot of nice places to dive there . I hope I will stop spending money on photography equipment and spare some money for diving then

Thanks, John!



Izzie, there is absolutely nothing to fear here - these guys are usually more afraid of divers than anything, and will usually retreat into the reef after a few minutes (unless you get really lucky and get a bolder one!). As for size, that's a tricky question. For most of the time we saw this one, it was maybe about the size of a soccer ball (futbol) as it moved around the reef. However, at the end of its time with us, it vanished into a hole about the size of a golf ball. They can change their size and shape, and do so with pretty impressive results.



Why wait? I live in a landlocked part of the United States, and we simply make a point to get to a good diving location as often as possible (which usually means once a year if we're lucky!).



BOOOO!!! Fish (and cephalopods for that matter) are friends!



Thanks, Sam! Yes - it is among my most favorite things to do. I wish I could do so more often. Perhaps some day I will retire to some tropical island!

- Bill

[Steaphany]

wow--makes me want to get over my dislike for being under water!

Make a trip to the coast of Western Australia. At low tide, Octopus stranded in tidal pools will climb out and walk from pool to pool to eat the trapped Crabs.

You can breath air, not be under water, and still watch / photograph the Octopus. ( Fears bypassed )