Remarkable experience with a Giant Pacific Octopus while scuba diving at Porteau Cove Provincial Park, a shore site just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. The nutrient rich waters of Howe Sound provide home to an incredible diversity of marine life. As Porteau Cove also has several artificial reefs, octopus and an ever growing diversity of marine life have taken hold in the park over the past several decades. This GPO was so impressive in size as it hovered effortlessly across the sandy bottom swiftly rolling between various reef structures in our emerald waters of Howe Sound. So curious and interactive, seemingly quite intrigued with my camera system...yet quite comfortable with our presence and not too fussed about our obvious jubilant glee throughout our dive alongside this exquisite creature.

Having recently watched the incredible documentary “My Octopus Teacher” we felt especially lucky to have had such a special encounter. Lingering thoughts can’t help but wonder what this beautiful creature was thinking about us and where could this fast friendship evolve to with our new unexpected dive buddy should we meet again?

After more than 20 minutes of pure underwater magic, eye to eye with this obviously intelligent aquatic alien, our bottom time now pressing 70 minutes, it was time to ascend. With our faces almost frozen with permanent grins, it wasn’t easy to say goodbye to this extraterrestrial-like, magical being, who gave us such a memorable experience that will surely last a lifetime !

Divers: Amy Liebenberg, Tanya Prinzing & Deirdre Forbes McCracken

Video By: Deirdre Forbes McCracken
Owner, Ocean Quest Dive Centre

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