A diver in southern Florida shared a cute moment with a shy yet curious octopus when the clever animal tried to play hide-and-seek.
"It was so precious how he shyly hid behind the stick and, eventually, just ended up being interested in the fish near him more than me,” says science writer and dive professional Blake Martinez who shared the footage on Instagram.
She came across the "absolutely adorable” Atlantic long arm octopus when diving on a seagrass bed.
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At a first glance, it seemed like there was nothing on the seabed but the odd fish. "But I’ve learned that if you have patience and float very still, the animals will realise you’re not a threat and go back to their daily routine,” she says.
When she saw the little octopus, it was a bit nervous at first, she says, and hid behind a twig while trying to suss out whether she posed a danger. “But even when he hovered over a hole he could easily hide in, he chose not to, so I know he was just as curious about me as I was about him!”
Martinez watched the clever creature swimming and playing for a while before it eventually swam away.
Image and video credit: Blake Martinez
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