Sama pointed to a cluster of rock at about 60 feet and when I circled around to where he was pointing all I saw was a swarm of wrasses. Looking over at Sama I hunched my shoulders and he pointed again at the spot directly in front of me. That is when I saw it, the outline of the octopus pressed against the rock.
Mary and I were diving from Wananavu, Fiji, at a site called Dream Maker at Thakau Vatu Latha or Sail Rock Reef. Comprised of five large coral heads, with caves and swim-throughs, the site is filled with soft corals called dendronepthia (carnation coral) in bright colors of yellow, purple and pink. On the edges of the site schools of snapper and sharks can be seen swimming against the current.
Today Mary and I are the only ones on the dive site, except for our dive guide Sama from Kai Viti Divers, and we are loving this dive. The seas were rough and angry on the way out but once we got under the water Dream Maker lived up to it’s name. Sama led us through the caverns where the colorful soft coral danced in the current. We snuck up on white tip sharks as they rested in the sand and lost count of the various nudibranchs.
We encircled the octopus and after realilzing that he had been discovered he began posturing in an attempt to initmidate us. Notice the texture of his skin filled with knobs and spikes in an attempt to make it seem an unappealing meal.
The amazing Pacific Octopus not only is a master of camoflage but also displays it's emotions through its skin. Switching to video we caught it's skin flashing between dark and light colors.
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