In an Octopus’s Garden

In An Octopus’s Garden

Ahoy! Remember that tune by The Beatles titled “Octopus’s Garden?” The chorus was:

I’d like to be

Under the sea

In an octopus’s garden

In the shade

Well, that song could well be an anthem for the Virgin Islands where more than a few octopuses roam. When I first came to the Virgin Islands some twenty years ago, the fish were so plentiful that all I had to do was sit on the ocean floor and marvel at all the trumpet fish, turtles, squid and damsel fish that swarmed around me. Virgin Islands is a snorkeler’s paradise, and spying an octopus is always a possibility.

One year for my birthday we went to St. John and my only wish was to see an octopus. It was the one sea creature (other than tiny seahorses) that I had yet to see in those luminous Caribbean waters. Each trip out into Salt Pond Bay, as I peered through my goggles, I prayed and prayed to see one of those magnificent creatures, and on this particular trip, I would not be disappointed. In true mystical fashion, I heard an answer to my prayers. I was told to slow down and become still. “Stiller yet,” the voice demanded. Then I heard “Turn right,” “Go slowly”, and then, “Turn left.”  And woo-hoo! There beneath me was a small octopus searching for food.

I gasped, sending sound and vibration up through my breathing tube which caused the octopus to flee towards the nearest rock. In an instant, it changed from various shades of brown and white to a mottled gray color that made it impossible for me to distinguish the rock from the octopus. I waited and waited hoping it would start moving again, but all I ever saw was one lonely tentacle rising to detect if I was nearby. I waited another 20 minutes but it never budged. To my amazement, I was in very shallow water that was less than three feet in depth. 

Since then, I’ve spied various sized octopuses in most of the waters off of St. John, including Francis Bay, Maho, Caneel, and Trunk Bay. I’ve also learned to locate them in the coral and rocks by looking for those large eyes that open and close as they scan for predators. If you’re hoping to catch sight of an octopus, my advice is: “Be patient.” 

Moving slowly and looking carefully for round or smooth shapes attached to rocks and ledges will be your best bet. Also, seeing a pile of opened seashells is a good sign that a well-fed octopus is nearby. Rumor has it that the north and west sides of the little isle at Waterlemon Cay is nicknamed “Octopus’s Garden” by snorkeling enthusiasts, but I personally have never spied one there. (Make sure you’re a good swimmer if you head to that area as the currents in those waters, especially around a full moon, can be strong.)  

Did You Know ?????

In Native American culture, the octopus is a crest in the Tsimshian Eagle Clan, and it is symbolic of wealth in Kwakwaka’wakw oral traditions, a tribe in the Pacific Northwest. Considered to be a powerful and intelligent creature known for its adaptability, flexibility and metamorphic abilities, the octopus reminds us that if we tap into these qualities we can navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and grace.

Amazing Facts

Marine biologists would agree with the Native Americans’ assessment that octopuses are fascinating and intelligent creatures. Here are just a few of some of the interesting facts that make octopuses unique:

1. They have three hearts and blue blood.
2. Considered the most intelligent invertebrates (animals that lack a backbone or vertebral column), they are capable of learning, problem-solving and using tools.
3. All octopuses are venomous, though most species’ venom isn’t deadly to humans. 
4. Most octopuses only live a year or two.
5. An octopus is capable of moving very quickly because it sucks water into its body and expels it through a siphon, creating a form of jet propulsion.  
6. Their blue blood is due to the presence of the copper-containing protein hemocyanin, which transports oxygen.
7. They are masters at camouflage because they can change color, texture and shape to blend in with their surroundings.
8. Their eight arms are loaded with powerful suckers that allow them to grip and manipulate objects. 
9. They can walk on two legs!
10. They are carnivores that feed on a variety of marine life, including crustaceans, fish and other mollusks.
11. There are at least 300 recognized species of octopuses with a few species being found in the freshwater rivers of North America.
12.  An octopus has nine brains. The central brain is doughnut-shaped and forms a ring around the octopus’s food canal, which means when it swallows, food passes through the brain. Each arm also contains a brain.
13. An octopus can sense and taste things lurking in crevices, but it cannot locate what it is until it sees it.
14. An octopus can squeeze into most anything – plastic tubing, glass jars, coconut shells – because they don’t have an internal or external skeletal system.
15. They can spray ink-like liquid to create a smokescreen for escaping predators. 
16. Octopuses are so smart that they’ve been known to navigate mazes for rewards.
17. The chemistry of water must be exactly right for an octopus to survive. Any trace of copper will kill it.
18. While an adult will eat dead, frozen food, a very young octopus needs live food.
19. Octopuses in aquariums have been known to escape their tanks and cruise around the building after visitors are gone.
20. Octopuses can be quite affectionate with humans.

Learn More About These Amazing Creatures

Simply put, there’s more to an octopus than what you see in pictures or the movies. They are interesting, fascinating and highly evolved beings, and more and more books and films are addressing their unique personalities. If you’d like to learn more, here are some good places to start.

• Steve Simonsen Photography – Steve is a local photographer from St. John who often posts pictures of octopuses on his Facebook page. He and his wife have had numerous interactions with octopuses in the Virgin Islands with one spry critter actually snatching one of their cameras and proceeding to take selfies!
• Octopus My Teacher – This award-winning documentary never ceases to amaze audiences. Based on the real-life friendship that developed between a documentary filmmaker and a Common Octopus, this movie captures both the extraordinary capabilities of humans and animals to communicate and form relationships. Both heart-warming and heart-breaking, the film will forever transform the way you look at an octopus.
• The Soul of an Octopus – This book, subtitled: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, by naturalist Sy Montgomery, looks at the various personalities present in octopuses around the world. Relaying various stories about encounters within aquariums as well as open waters from French Polynesia to the Gulf of Mexico, Montgomery shares both humorous and intriguing stories about octopuses who have done everything from jetting water to bounce balls to escaping enclosures to find better food to eat.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures – This popular fictional tale by Shelby Van Pelt has captivated readers since its debut in 2023. It’s the story of the friendship between Marcellus, a giant Pacific Octopus, and Tova, a widow who cleans the aquarium where Marcellus lives. Using a mix of love, mystery, and octopus lore, Pelt weaves a tale that blurs the line between possible and impossible and touches the heartstrings concerning the value and meaning of friendship.

End Notes: Hopefully, you’re excited and psyched to come to the Virgin Islands and have your own octopus encounter, and we at Stormy Pirates Charters would like to help you. There’s never any guarantee what you’ll see on a snorkeling adventure, but we have the inside track on where to look. Not to mention we also have one of the best fleets of boats and superbly trained crews to make your trip memorable. So, visit our website and book a boat day with us – we promise to put the gang plank down and escort you in style.