![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.awoosh.com\/gallery\/albums\/Banda-Sea-2011\/aeu.jpg\")
Blue Ringed Octopus – Hapalochlaena spp.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n The Blue Ringed Octopus is a mecca for any Indo Pacific diver, especially photographers. But these little beauties pack a lethal punch – as one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean, one bite is capable of pretty quickly killing a human being. \u00a0It is said that the venom of one little octopus (they max out at about 6 inches long), is so lethal that it could kill several humans, cold.<\/p>\n I have seen some funny sh*t with octopi, including being stalked by a Giant Pacific Octopus (just call me ‘Sir’) in British Columbia, but none was funnier (in a schadenfreude<\/em> kind of way) than watching Simon Buxton (a great photographer and now of NAD Resort Lembeh infamy) line up a shot of one of these little devils on a night dive in the Banda Sea, only to lose sight of the octopus as it lifted off and landed on his housing. \u00a0He dropped that thing like a hot potato, and was in a bit of a frenzy as he checked his head, hands and feet to make sure the little sucker wasn’t camping out on him.<\/p>\n The image above was shot on my most recent trip to Indonesia. \u00a0This one was out on the reef in the light of day, and was spotted by the eagle eyes of one of the other passengers on the Arenui. \u00a0Its bright blue rings are an indicator that it is highly agitated. \u00a0I was shooting a macro lens, so had to get in tight, but I kept a keen eye on the critter and made sure he stayed on the reef.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New day, new venomous critter ;^) The Blue Ringed Octopus is a mecca for any Indo Pacific diver, especially photographers. But these little beauties pack a lethal punch – as one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean, one … Continue reading