As the Beatles song goes, I love to be in an octopuses garden in the shade, but after diving in BC for almost 6 years I have learned some important lessons diving with octopus. One, never take your glove off while interacting with a giant pacific octopus in Port Hardy to be able to touch its skin without harming it, and two, never press all the buttons on your underwater housing at once when witnessing the most beautiful octopus strutting its stuff walking down a hill. You will end up crying. My name is Carrie and I am addicted to all things octopus.

So I was very excited when I received Super Suckers and Other Cephalopods of the pacific Coast by James A Cosgrove and Neil McDaneil from Ab as a gift. As I opened its glossy cover I giggled to myself as the first chapter is dedicated to First Nations Legends and myths of the past. I have always loved First Nations octopus art and those drawings of mysterious sea creatures enveloping ships. I always dream of getting my first tattoo with one of these themes.

The just released 208 page book is chock a block with large full colour photos explaining all things octopus. The detailed scientific diagrams of its digestive and respiratory systems are neat, did you know what an octopus eats and breathes goes through one tube through its body and out its siphon? The chapter on reproduction was fascinating as it has detailed photos of the male spermatophores which he deposits inside the females mantle during mating. Now I know what it looks like if I may be lucky to witness such an event. I also didnt know that before the female lays her eggs, she selects a den and often builds a wall of rocks to keep predators out. The wall will remain intact until she knocks it down 7 to 10 months time before she dies. There is even a photo of a wall constructed by an octopus.

There is a chapter about the octopus at its home and the different ways its moves through the water. Now, in the true tradition of Jaws and showing friends scars from sea creatures, I have always wanted to walk into work with bandages and have people go what happened?? I got bit by an Octopus I would proudly explain. Yes Im weird in that way. So I was super happy to read the chapter on octopus bites! What I didnt know was that the octopus has a pair of salivary glands. One gland produces toxin and the other a powerful saliva that causes the tissue to dissolve&.. maybe I dont want to be bitten. The photo of a bite on a persons arm didnt help either. The beak can puncture the skin in a way that looks super painful.

Top the book off with interesting close encounter stories from local diving luminaries such as (my favourite) Andy Lamb and Doug Pemberton (check out octopus attaks diver on you tube) makes this book a must have for the naturalist, scuba diver or lover of Octopuses. Page 23 explains the whole debate, it describes the proper way to call more than one.! Sending out good Octopus karma&&
Carrie the explorer