Seventh blog from 17 days and nights, 55 dives, at wonderful Crystal Blue Resort, Anilao, Philippines January 20 to February 5, 2024

Always a favorite subject are the wonderful Cephalopods: Octopus, Squids, and Cuttlefish. Two other types of Cephlapods are Chambered Nautilus and Argonauts, I'll be covering them in a separate blog on th Blackwater Diving Safari week at BCR. I'll start with a photo sequence of an fun encounter with a Coconut Octopus on a night dive. Below a Coconut Octopus is sitting confidently and comfortably in his hideway, a discarded cup:

After watching the octopus for a couple minutes I decided, knowing octopuses are frequently very curious, to slowly extend the metal standoff rod I carry for helping me hold position over the bottom without touching or stirring it up. You can just see the tip of the standoff in the lower left of the photo. Below:

The octopus was immediately very curious about the rod and immediately began to emerge from its shelter and grasp the rod. Next two photos, below:

Above, another Coconut Octopus Below: Poison Ocellate Octopus, also called Bluering D octopus, about 3 inches long

Below: White-V Octopus, I think

Octopus have amazing ability to camouflage themselves, below:

More octopuses, below:

Below: Bobtail Squid, maybe 2 inches long

Below: Broadclub Cuttlefish, I think.

Above: unknown type of Cuttlefish, there are many types! Below: Several Flamboyant Cuttlefish photos, these are amazing cuttlefish!