Chasing the Mimic Octopus

Thaumoctopus mimicus, Menado Bay

The last dive I did during the LOB to North Sulawesi was diving at Menado Bay.  The site is called “City Extra”, named after a restaurant in front of the sight (there is also a sight called ‘Warung Anjing’ because the site is behind a restaurant that serve dogmeat).  This is a shallow dive, muck dive, where macro lovers would enjoy and feel high looking at extraordinary creatures.

This is also my third time encountering a smart octopus, called Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus).  It is called so because it can mimic a flounder, starfish, crinoids, etc.  They are shy animals and often hide under the sands and one has to be really smart to make them come out from the hiding place.

The first time I saw this was at Purijati in 2005.  I was diving with Pras and it took such an effort for him to get the octopus out from the hiding place.  It is like poking and lifting and it looked so tiring.  Three people put a lot of effort to get this creature out.

Oni and Basrah patting the ground

The second time was in Lembeh, during this trip.  I was waiting for my turn to take a picture of something when I spotted one pod of the octopus.  I quietly patted Oni’s shoulder and pointed it out, and Oni managed to get the octopus out just by patting the sand.  Voila…it’s out.

The third time was at City Extra.  I was diving and keeping my eyes open when Oni stopped me.  I saw him giving sign to Basrah, the other guide, and he started patting the ground with his stick.  He was doing that for probably 5 minutes, while I kept distance from him, wondering what he was trying to do.  Then….whoaaa…the mimic octopus!  Amazing how Oni knows where this creature is!  I was so impressed!  It’s like, “Knock, knock….”.