The second dive took us to a site off of Sunrise Beach. We were told that we might find Wolf Eel and Octopus in the area, I remember the first time diving this site finding an octopus hidden in a hole. On that dive I couldn't see the entire Octo., but the eye alone was as big as my hand!

We navigated through schools of small silver fish (perch?) away from the drop off point to a shelf at about 60 feet from the surface. We found a pile of shells which are a sign that a Wolf Eel may be making a home nearby. We searched and found not an eel, but small Octopus! it was in a hole, but was small enough that we could maneuver a dive light around and see the entire thing. It even extended a tentacle and tested my dive buddy's hand, it was like shaking a tentacle/hand! Once the octopus was satisfied that we were not food and not a threat it withdrew it's tentacle and contented itself to sit in it's hole and watch us.

We moved on after a bit and found a second octopus -- this one was right out in the open! We were able to also shake hand/tentacle with this one, and watch it crawling along the ocean floor. Eventually this one found a crevice to fold itself into and it settled in where it felt more secure. Later we led four other divers to the first and second *octopi we found and one of those divers found two others that were mating!

We took great voyeuristic pleasure in watching the mating couple and later theorized that we were able to find octopi out in the open because of the mating cycle they must have been in. It is amazing to watch a single octopus crawling along the ocean floor, but to watch two of them mating and writhing and breathing (gee, that does sound kinky doesn't it?) was unbelievably captivating.

I've seen octopi in tanks before, but none this close. We were among one of the most amazing creatures in this region and witnessing a rare occurrence at that.

As most of you know, it is a matter of safety to reach the surface with 500 psi in your tank. My dive buddy and I were so enthralled we kept watching our pressure bleeding down. At 500 psi I signaled my buddy and saw that his too was at the same point. At 400 psi we still couldn't leave. Finally at 350 psi we reluctantly began our ascent. We had plenty of air at 20 feet to do a 10 minute safety stop and I still had 200 psi at the surface. This experience was the most memorable that I've had to date!

Randy Jennings LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist)

diving with Brainard Brauer

*I've always heard that the plural for octopus was octopi, however my spell checker gives a spelling of octopuses. I'd be interested in knowing if any of you know for sure which is the correct spelling.