Octopus attacks a lionfish GoPro Hero2 HD

[gearbow]

This is a bit longer video but the highlights are in the desciption if you want to fast forward to those spots. I sent over 2 and a half months diving in Cozumel and this was definatly one of the highlights of the entire trip. When Octopus Attack, Tug of war with spear fisherman. GoPro Hero 2 HD, 1080p, - YouTube

[Mark Derail]

Perhaps others can chime in - but when I was in Grand Cayman for a night dive, the DM explained how it was important not to shine our lights on the turtles.

As this disturbs their sleep cycle, they have to surface for air. Apparently they sleep UW on a single breath, by disturbing them they move away and have to start over, find another spot (at night!) to lay in.

The small one at the beginning, then the bigger one at 5:06.

Then I see someone actually reaching out to pet one!

So, beautiful video, great editing, but issues that make it that I won't hit the Like button here & Youtube. Unless you add blurbs of text somewhere to explain.

Or just do a section, say a 40 sec video of the tug of war with the octopus, I'll "Like" that and even send to my FB homepage.

Why aggravate a puffer?

Please explain gearbow...such things make me sad as a fellow diver.

[gearbow]

thank you for watching and taking the time to watch. I don't want to change your opinion but since you took the time to comment I will take the time to respond.

From what I have notice from being here so long in Cozumel is everyone and every DM has there own ideas of dive etiquette. Then there is the problem of enforceing it underwater. I personally don't like to touch anything and have yet to touch a turtle. ( Actually I got to close with my camera once and his fin hit my camera as it was swimming. Just the other day I also gently pushed a nurse shark away as he took a special intrest in my camera.

I am not sure exactly why the first diver was shining his light right on the turtle head with his flashlight. Maybe he thought we could not see it. My lights are very bright also and in illuminating my subject on a night dive I am most certainly disturbing them. I use two flood lights that are very bright LED's and if you were to look at them you would loose your night vision for a period of time. I was a soldier for 4 years and know all about night vision.

I don't know of any dive company that does more than one night dive per night and your dive is going to be a maximum of 1 hour. Every strobe flash and even the ambient light given off of the new LED light are very bright and again has to be disturbing the life on the reef.

I think I have reserved myself that I am disturbing the wildlife at night for a short amount of time in the first hour of the evening. I hunt with my camera and when I am done my prey is still alive instead of on my plate. There are a lot of crab, lobster and octopus that get a lot more than some temporary night blindness on the reefs to the north.

The dive shop I use discourages touching the reef or the animals but I think showing off a little balloon fish as it puffs up is pretty harmless and besides being a little frightened and maybe loseing its full night vision for a few minutes they are left no worse for wear.

I am always learning more and trust me there is noone that loves the ocean more than me. I would never swim with captive dolphins but then again there are others that would never do a night dive knowing they will be disturbing the wildlife. Some might even argue that we should not be diving at all. All those divers on on the reef all the time is disturbing the wildlife but to me I like to think there is a benefit to all these divers that love the ocean being in a relatively small portion of the oceans even of we ate disturbing their environment a little. I do try my best to limit my footprint but sometimes it is hard when your filming ; )

[Simon-]

What's with the grabbing and touching things?

Ruins an otherwise nice video

[drrich2]

I kept skipping ahead to where the octopus got the lionfish that had been nailed by a diver. Neat to watch. I was in a hurry, but enjoyed it and the sound track sounded good.

What I don't understand is why some predators will handily grab a dead lionfish but not a live one. I'd think one could easily get stung by a dead one, too.

Richard.

P.S.: Simon, did you see his post right above yours? He explained.

[Mark Derail]

Thanks Gear for the explanations; I know that some DM's do go around disturbing on purpose for the "amusement" of others, and that you were just a spectator.

I also hoped that my catching this early, thus giving you a chance to explain, will (should!) refrain some of the more vocal on this board from getting up in arms.

I really, really wanted to "like the heck" out of that video for the quality alone. My only request would be...

That you do a bit more editing, creating another version of the same video, minus the "what some consider out of line".

I won't get that new video to viral status; but I will promote it, sometimes my suggestions get picked up by others with 100k followers.
Another suggestion - put this new video also on Vimeo.

[gearbow]

Thanks , Mark . I think I will make another edited versions for the viewers that are offended. After your comment I am also trying to be more conscious of my impact when interacting with the undersea life : ) I know I won't be perfect in everyone eyes but I will try to respect the reef and it's inhabitants as best I know how. Thanks again for the interest and the complements on my shooting. I am trying to get a steady hand and better buoyancy.