(DiverWire) Two divers were taking photos of an octopus when the animal decided to attack their underwater camera. The entire exchange was caught on video below.
Underwater photography instructor Warren Murray, 56, was diving with his companion David Malvestuto in Bluefish Cove in Carmel, California. The two encountered a Giant Pacific Octopus, which is not often found in Bluefish Cove. Murray moved closer to snap photos while Malvestuto stayed back to take video of the encounter. As the video shows, after Murray snapped a few photos (complete with bright white flashes), the octopus jetted from its rocky resting place and latched its tentacles around Murray’s dive camera.
Pictured: Murray, keeping hold of his camera.
Murray was surprised by the sudden encounter. In an interview with the NY Daily News, Murray said: “Generally they are not too interested in people. They’ll just take off. I was thinking he would take off as soon as I got close to it.”
However, once the octopus jumped on the camera, Murray had the presence of mind to continue taking video, even as the camera lens disappeared into the squeezing arms. The end of the video above shows the event from the camera’s perspective.
Octopuses aren’t known for attacking humans, and Murray speculated that it may have seen its own reflection, and believed it be another octopus approaching.
Shot from Murray’s camera just as the octopus lunged.
No damage was done to Murray, the camera, or the octopus. When asked why he kept a hold of the camera, Murray’s answered with, simply, “”I wanted to capture as many pictures as I could.”
