Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler
This Saint Patrick's Day I arrived bright and early (well, just early) at Two Step for a little diving. The water is still spectacularly cold at around 73 deg. F. The conditions, otherwise, were pretty good. Toward the end of my first dive, I happened upon a large, handsome octopus and settled in to get some shots.
Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler
Like most octopi, this one displayed a combination of shyness and curiosity. Sometimes hunkering down in the coral to hide and other times "standing up" on the reef to get a good look at me.
Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler
I followed the creature as it jetted from one coral head to another and morphed through a range of colors and textures.
Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler
After several minutes of this, He settled on a patch of coral and assumed an upright posture. To my surprise a smaller octo rose up a short distance beyond him. For a short time they remained stationary, just pulsating on top of the coral. Then, slowly, they oozed toward each other, tentacles reaching out. I was able to get a photo just as the male extended his hectocotylus arm under the female's mantle to inseminate her.
Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler
And then, just like that, it was over, each octopus jetting off in different directions. A brief flurry of 16 arms hopefully resulting in a new generation of cephalopods. Happy St. Patrick's Day, young lovers!
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