Like the Decorated Warbonnet, they are long eel-like fish. They are much smaller than the Decorated Warbonnet, growing to about six inches when mature. Friends in British Columbia have told me they can be quite nasty - even swimming out to bite fingers - although I have never had this happen to me.ĭecorated Warbonnet keeping a close eye on me.Īnother favorite fish I find in the spring is the juvenile Mosshead Warbonnet, (Chirolophis nugatory). Decorated Warbonnets tend to hide in crevices, inside logs or sponges, and seem to be quite territorial. They have an elongated body and can grow to more than a foot long. This year I was lucky enough to photograph one of my favorite fish guarding eggs, the Decorated Warbonnet (Chirolophis decoratus). This is a small GPO peeking out of the concrete pipe it inhabits.ĭuring the spring months in the Pacific Northwest there are many creatures breeding and laying eggs. This is a large specimen that came out to investigate and let me take a series of photos before it slithered back into a crevice in the rocks. And while it’s exhilarating to watch a GPO exhibit warning behavior (appearing larger by extending legs and billowing out the membranes between legs), we need to remember to respect their space. They have even been known to steal divers' cameras, rip off masks or descend with arms all over a diver. GPOs, especially large specimens, are really majestic animals when seen outside of their dens.Īlthough GPOs are usually inquisitive and not aggressive, it is important to understand that a larger octopus could do a lot of damage quickly. You could actually see the arms pushing out the debris that was not wanted in the den. On one dive I was swimming along when I saw a huge cloud of sand erupt from a den, followed by the octopus throwing shells and rocks out. Each GPO also seems to remodel its den just to its liking. They can frequently be found in a den during the day and outside hunting at night. This cephalopod is very intelligent and inquisitive. One of the most well known animals in our local waters is the Giant Pacific Octopus, (Enteroctopus dofleini). My answer is simple: the abundance of life in cold water is endless, and the creatures I see while diving often deliver surprises. When I have had the opportunity to dive in places with warmer water most folks ask how I can stand the cold water. I live in the Pacific Northwest and most of my diving has been in the waters of Puget Sound, Hood Canal and the inland waters of British Columbia.
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