Blanket Octopus

Mike Bartick · Issue 108, May/Jun 2019 · pp. 55–59

Products mentioned: Nikon D850, Nikon D500, Sea & Sea housing, 60mm Nikkor lens, YS D2 strobe

The Blanket octopus is perhaps one of the most mysterious sea creatures of all times. They are a pelagic octopus that live their entire lifecycle in open ocean which not only make’s them hard to find, but even harder to study in their natural habitat. Much of what is known is speculation and the information presented here is gleaned from books, the internet, and further formed by personal observations from having multiple personal encounters. What I have learned is that the Blanket octopus is a complex animal with intriguing behaviors from the way they mate and reproduce to hunting strategies and defense. One thing is for sure, nothing can truly prepare you for the moment you encounter one. Diving in the open ocean at night will allow the interested to witness and encounter the night sea, first hand and in person, there is just no substitute for it. Blackwater diving as we like to call i…