Alaska (Pacific) Octopus
November 23, 2009
Alaska (Pacific) Octopus
Todays dive was great. I’ve been spending a lot of time since my hike across the island (and rescue via the USCG) kicking back and relaxing. Todays dive was at one of our favorite local dive sites. Reid and I dove The Reef at Little South America to check octopus dens for eggs and occupation.
Jennifer and Simon were a head of us while Brandon and Mike were behind us. It was windy with winds of 35 mph coming from the south. Water temp was 39 but visibility was fantastic and at a max depth of 83 feet ~ I was happy to be back in the water.
We checked several dens – with Reid checking and marking down the results on the slates.
We saw several occupied dens and only one of them had eggs hanging. We had one den, near the end of the ‘reef’ that was occupied and had a huge ‘grave yard’ (also known by the marine biologist folk as a midden) out in front of it. It was littered with King Crab and Giant Clam shells.
Also worth mentioning is that just as Reid and I rounded the corner of the reef, I saw Simon backing off a large den enterance and an ocotpus backing back in to the den.
Simon told us top side that as he approached the den the octopus came out after him. whoa, better him than me!!
All in all a great dive with some great people.
Comments
Got something to say?
