Interested in seeing a variety of Octopus in Lembeh? The best way to catch the most variety is to vary your dive schedule. The morning dives are the best time to see Reef, Mimic and Coconut Octopus. Mimic Octopus sightings are well sought after due to the animal’s unique ability to imitate venomous animals when threatened. The Mimic Octopus plays an amazing game of charades and can convincingly mimic venomous Lionfish, Banded Sea Snakes and Banded Soles in its attempt to scare off potential predators. And though it is our most commonly encountered Octopus, the Coconut Octopus is not to be dismissed! The right individual can be endless entertainment as it plays peek-a-boo and shows off it’s attachment issues as it runs across the reef holding a house of shells or coconut husk!
If the Blue-Ringed Octopus is at the top of your cephalopod wish-list, make sure you schedule a few afternoon dives at Two Fish Lembeh. Blue-Ringed Octopus are more often encountered in the afternoon at dive sites that have plenty of rubble for them to hide in. The Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus (pictured) is an extremely rare and glorious site in Lembeh. It has larger and even more intense blue rings than the Blue Ringed Octopus. Keep your eyes peeled for this beauty on your afternoon safety stops as they prefer to move about in the extremely shallow waters of Lembeh Strait.
The Wonderpus, a true Lembeh crowd-pleaser, is most often encountered at dusk and dawn. Since most guests sleep right thru the dawn option, we plan our daily night dives so that our divers are dropping in at dusk. Countless night dives begin with an amazing Wonderpus show, which is really just the beginning: Long-armed Octopus are a dime a dozen on most night dives, and Coconut Octopus often times make a second appearance of the day as well. But the real night dive showstopper is the Starry Night Octopus! Named after the white skin flaps that “twinkle” across its body, disappearing and reappearing time and again, the Starry Night Octopus is an animal that makes getting wet at night well worth the hassle!
Photo Credit: Scott Rettig – Dive Manager and Photo Instructor at Two Fish, Lembeh
