Wolf eels and octopus, oh my!

[tiggymalvern]

This is the video from last Saturday's dives at the Hood Canal. When we booked months ago, we were debating between last weekend and this weekend. Given that it's been raining much of the day, we made the right choice!

We saw a free-swimming wolf eel. I love those ugly guys, and it's always great to see them like that, because mostly you just see the head poking out of a hole, which gives no indication of quite how much eel is hidden back there. This one was about 6 feet long.
We also saw a giant pacific octopus sitting out in the open instead of tucked into a cave. Unfortunately this one was deep, at around 90 feet/28m, so the lighting is bad. Anywhere my light shines on it, it looks insanely red, and anywhere out of the light just looks green, which is the only colour that makes it that deep. Still cool though!

https://youtu.be/PVmp2GazWUs

Comments

[tiggymalvern]

Around here, the only predator of a reasonably large pacific octopus would be harbour seals. They generally don't have much reason to react to divers. Although if you poked one with a stick or attempted to grab it, it would have something to say about it, like most wild animals.

He doesn't even know exactly what they did to him? Damn, I wouldn't go into any surgery without asking what to expect afterwards.

Lack of free skin to close is definitely an issue when it comes to removing dermal masses. How long would he have been waiting if you hadn't gone to the private surgeon? I have no idea what the state of healthcare is in Aus, is it anything like the horror of NHS waiting lists?

[bymyverytoes]

"He doesn't even know exactly what they did to him?"

Oh, yes he does know that. And he knows, he tells me now, that it was a small area. The rest of it is just because it's on his lower leg and and hard to mobilise outside bedrest

"is it anything like the horror of NHS waiting lists?"

Not really. Some procedures - orthoapedics are the worst - have a long list, but most of the time are pretty reasonable.

This surgeon has been looking after us since 2026, and this is the first either of us have been hospitalised for his treatment. We will have to investigate options. Insurance is a bad deal and I believe in the public system, so I want to know what they are.

[tiggymalvern]

Oh, yes he does know that.

Well, I'm glad to know he's that sensible, at least :-)

Yeah, when you find a really good doctor, it's always daunting to have to try and switch to another - it's always preferable to stick with the one you know works well for you.