I thought: Just wait for God's timing....

I got in the water early today and then spent almost an hour trying to find even one octopus!

I have been fortunate lately to see at least one right away, so it's always a bit stressful to await the sighting of that first one.

So after almost an hour, I thought: Just wait for God's timing. And then, there it was right below me!

This one was being hassled by a rock mover wrasse. I have often thought to follow that fish, since they are often associated with the octopuses, but unless they are actually circling something or rubbing up against the octopus, that can be a waste of time. Much better to wait on God, than fish. 

So after the first one broke the ice, I immediately saw 3 more. And then none for the rest of the swim. Crazy, right?

Above is he'e #2....smaller. And on top of a rock.











Number 3:

The 3 photos are all octopus #3.  This one has two photos of what I call peeking. Where the octopus slink down behind a rock and then watches to make sure you go away.

Don't think I'm a weirdo, but I do ask God to let the octopus know that I won't harm it. I think God has amazing powers, but not sure if communicating with octopuses is one of them. ha.



Octopus #4 was the truly amazing sighting: the Rock Mover wrasse was totally rubbing on the octopus. The octopus had enough of this, so it flew under a nearby rock, becoming mostly invisible.

Yes, all 3 of the pictures have the octopus in it. I don't lie. In the first one, you can see the small white lines that branch out from its eye. The eye is red. It is just a little bit down and to the right of that pink urchin. If it weren't bumpy, it would be even harder to see. Actually, I am rather surprised that it didn't turn that dark angry brown, as they normally do. After all, I had to dive down, hold my breath and snap a few photos from underneath the rock. Just sayin'. But it was worth it...

Also saw a cool scorpion fish:

Doesn't it look mean? I shall have to research how to tell male from female. If one can.
Here are the other cool things I viewed:

 a pair of raccoon butterfly fish

 The Ambon puffer showing its pretty blue under-fin

 6 tiny Cornet fish....awww c'mon, so cute! (thinner than a pencil)

 A hiding cowry shell

 fleabite cone shell (and it's still there, on the floor of the ocean)

 I used to call these needlefish, but I'm now thinking since it's larger, it might be a half beak.

 Nice humu. There are tons of little ones around these days (but this isn't one of those little ones.)

 Pinktail Durgon. These usually hang out in the deeper, and therefore more wavy and bubbly, water.

 OK, test your viewing skills: the octopus is on the ground, just two bumps down from its eye. and just above the pink urchin.

 A pair of teardrop butterfly fish. I do think they are the most lovely. Well, other than Lined Butterfly fish, which I don't usually see over here for some reason.

Someone had urchin for breakfast. I would probably collect these if they were really shells, i.e., hard. They are very breakable. 
Four octopuses: thanks, God!