Alien-like and with an intelligence that makes it seem even more other-worldly, octopuses are some of the most fascinating creatures to observe underwater. With about 300 species currently known to us, they are scattered all over the world’s oceans, from shallow intertidal zones to the deep and dark depths of oceanic trenches.

What makes them so adaptable and so interesting? And where can we scuba dive to find them? Let’s find out!

Fun Facts!

Venom - Though all octopuses are venomous, only one species is dangerous to humans - the blue-ringed octopus.

Multiple hearts - Octopuses have 3 hearts! Two are used to pump blood through their gills and one is used to circulate it through their organs. The latter stops working when an octopus swims - this is the reason they prefer to crawl rather than swim to get around.

Camouflage colouring - Octopuses have the impressive ability to change the colour, pattern, and texture of their skin in a second to hide from or warn other creatures around them. Scientists have also found that octopuses also have the ability to change the shape of their eyeballs, which allows them to bring in different wavelengths of light and thus colour into their vision, a skill that other cephalopods don’t have.

Intelligence - Known for their large brain-to-body ratio, octopuses have been shown to navigate mazes, solve logical problems, use tools, and build structures - they are some of the most intelligent species on our planet. Their eight limbs are also able to perform different tasks simultaneously as each appendage has its own cluster of nerves, allowing them to feel, taste, control, and smell the world around them. They also have the ability to regrow lost limbs! Furthermore, even though it seems like they have 8 ‘arms’ or ‘legs’, only 2 are used for movement and the remaining 6 are used as ‘arms’, for grabbing and moving objects, and even creating homes out of rocks with designated doors.

Where can we see these amazing creatures in the wild?

Different species of octopuses can be found all over the world, along reefs, sandy bottoms, and on very deep dives, in all different kinds of temperatures. Here are a few of the best places to see a few unique species:

Blue-ringed octopus - One of the most venomous marine creatures in our oceans, this tiny but deadly octopus can be found easily in Sipadan Malaysia, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, and off the coasts of Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

Coconut octopus - Known for collecting, carrying, and hiding in coconut shells along the sea floor is the coconut octopus. This species of octopus is more commonly spotted along sandy bottoms and during muck dives in the Lembeh Straight and Amed, Bali, Indonesia.

Mimic octopus - Getting its name for its ability to disguise itself by mimicking other sea creatures such as jellyfish, sea snakes, and lionfish, is the mimic octopus. This species of octopus is found most commonly in the Lembeh Straight of Indonesia and Tawali in Papua New Guinea.

Giant Pacific octopus - Growing up to a whopping 5 meters in length, the giant Pacific octopus inhabits the cold water regions of Japan and Alaska, however is more commonly spotted off of Vancouver Island in Canada, and in the Olympic National Park of Washington, USA.

Atlantic pygmy octopus - Though not as small as the 5-centimetre blue-ringed octopus, the 15-centimetre Atlantic pygmy seahorse is still just as cute in its pocket size. This species of octopus can be found in the Caribbean, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and most commonly in the Cayman Islands.

Add these locations to your next dive trip if you want a chance to spot the weirdest and most wonderful creature of the sea, the octopus!

Written by Kayli Wouters

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