Diving and snorkeling with octopusesOctopuses have great camouflage and they tend to be very shy. Seeing an octopus in the wild sparks a lot of joy in excitement in people. But it can also lead to dangerous levels of stress for the animal, and even be dangerous for the person. The tips below can contribute to a safer, and typically more enjoyable, encounter for both the octopus and for you.
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Keeping your distance is safer for the octopus• You'll see more natural, stress-free octopus behavior if you keep your distance. If the octopus is reacting to you, you may be close enough to cause stress. If it is trying to get away from you, especially if it inks, you are too close.
• Keep in mind: When octopuses use jetting to escape, their blood pressure gets so high it can stop their hearts. It also makes them more visible to predators. This is a dangerous situation for octopuses. • Keep in mind: Many municipalities, marine parks, and dive operators prohibit touching animals unless you have a special permit. |
Keeping your distance is safer for you• All octopuses use some form of toxin in their venom to immobilize their prey. Venoms of some octopuses are known to be deadly to humans. Venoms of others might not kill you, but they might be painful enough--or you might be allergic enough-- for a bite to end your dive vacation. Don't be the one to test the venom. More details here: https://wetpixel.com/articles/dont-test-the-venow
• Divers and snorkelers can typically avoid being bitten by octopuses by simply refraining from reaching out to touch or handle them. • Keep in mind: Octopuses are strong, sucker-lined animals with minds of their own. One can never assume to be able to control them or know what they will do next. |