Not a day goes by without a news story about how waste finds its way into our beautiful oceans. With each such story, however, more and more efforts are dedicated to turning the tide on water pollution.
Today, conservationists estimate that the waste count is in the trillions, amounting to over 260,000 tons of plastic waste alone roaming wild in the oceans. Not only do the different kinds of plastics and paint pollute the waters themselves, but are also hazardous to ocean life that swallows or gets caught in them.
This is, however, a feel-good story that serves as an example (and a reminder!) of how we ought to take care of our ocean life. A video surfaced that shows how scuba divers in Lembeh, Indonesia are convincing a baby veined octopus to switch “homes”—from a transparent plastic cup to a couple of seashells.
Pall Sigurdsson & other divers stumbled upon a baby octopus in a plastic cup
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Bored Panda got in touch with one of the divers, Pall Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson is an engineer and diving enthusiast from Iceland who enjoys filming animals that he encounters during his underwater adventures.
When asked about his encounter with the baby octopus, he explained: “This was our third dive that day, and we were all starting to get a little bit tired. My dive buddy sent me a hand signal indicating that he had found an octopus and asked me to come over for help.”
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
The team was so dedicated to helping the octopus that they almost ran out of air
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
“I am no stranger to seeing octopi making homes out of trash. They are clever animals and use their environment to their advantage, and trash is a permanent part of their environment now,” continued Sigurdsson. “However the octopus with its soft tentacles did not know that this cup offers virtually no protection, and in a competitive environment like the ocean, this cup was a guaranteed death sentence.”
Sigurdsson and other divers were so dedicated to helping this little veined octopus that they spent their entire dive and much of their oxygen to the cause. In the end, they were successful in persuading the new-found friend to switch “real-estate”.
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
They offered a number of shells until the veined octopus finally picked one
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Veined octopi are born with the instinct to protect themselves by scavenging for coconut or clamshells to make a mobile home from. Hence, they are sometimes called coconut octopi.
However, in the absence of natural materials, they also go for whatever they found on the ocean bed, like empty plastic cups or containers.
This not only means that the octopus is left vulnerable to predators because of the transparent plastic, but it also means that predators would eat the octopus together with the plastic.
The predator would quite likely also die or be weakened to a degree where a bigger predator may swoop in for an easy kill, continuing the plastic pollution cycle.
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
We asked Sigurdsson if trash is a common occurrence in his diving experience. “There are good days, and there are bad days depending on ocean currents. Some days, you see so much trash that it is almost impossible to film sea creatures without also including trash.”
“I try as hard as I can to make people see the ocean when it looks its best. Once I saw a family of anemone fish living next to a corroded battery. That was heartbreaking,” sighed Sigurdsson.
The adorable octopus almost forgot his other half of the shell
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Plastic is the primary pollutant in oceans and everyone has the potential to make the oceans a better place to live for everyone. Sigurdsson elaborated on this by saying “Most trash (including plastic) sinks. Most people only talk about the parts that they can see. The part that floats, but that’s just scratching the surface of the problem. Plastic straws are a minuscule part of the problem.”
Here’s the full clip of Sigurdsson and his team persuading the octopus to switch “real estate”
Image credits: Pall Sigurdsson
Here’s how the people of the internet reacted to this feel-good video
Not just cute, they're some of the most highly intelligent animals on earth, up there with dolphins and elephants. Don't eat 'em!
Load More Replies...If you love octopi, I recommend the latest episode on the NATURE program on PBS, their website is currently streaming the recent episode on a professor who documents his experience having an octopus as a temporary pet, it's fascinating (and FREE to watch) enjoy!
I keep thinking about the octopus that left it's tank to throw a rotten shrimp on his caretaker's desk... because it was rotten... And the fact that no one in the facility knew he could leave his tank until that very moment is priceless
Load More Replies...i just broke down crying because this is so sweet and pure!! thank you for doing this and thank you for sharing this !!
Oh wow, how good it feels to read this 😊! I really didn't know how to feel or rather think about myself, shortly after I realized, that I was crying right away after reading the headline and saw the picture.... 😌
Load More Replies...This is a wonderful video. I'm glad that the divers took the time to help the little octopus find a more suitable home. Octopuses are very intelligent. Notice how the little one feels up the merchandise for accepting anything.
That was incredibly cute! I just googled veined octopus and there are some amazing images of them.
Yeah. I accidentally googled veined oct puss and got some weird sites. Pretty neat but weird.
Load More Replies...Dear Sea Creatures, I am sorry for picking up sea shells that I found in the sea shore. I won't do it again.
I have a huge sea shell collection that I am now considering dropping back into the sea!
Load More Replies...This is the most moving humane display of gentle caring and understanding for another being I have witnessed in a very long time, thank you for sharing this.....
I have liked octopus and squid since seeing them in an aquarium. I felt a connection to them...will never eat calamari or the like again. This little guy is sooooo cute!
“As long as I personally like them, they deserve to live.” - Cindy Snow on animals.
Load More Replies...Interesting. I didn't know that people could interact with an octopus like that.
They're really intelligent creatures (by scientific standards), just search up some videos online and you'll see a lot of crazy stuff they can do and how they interact normally with humans
Load More Replies...Awww. It's been roundabout 6 years since I went diving the last time, and I rarely miss it as I had to discard it for other hobbies that bring me more joy. But in cases like this, I'd love to get my suit and an air bottle and go for it again :) Kudos to the divers helping this little guy!
This made me cry. What an amazing experience! And the comments were so cute. My faith in humanity just bumped up.
WOW! This great video showed how these wonderful intelligent creatures can communicate❤️👏
I always keep some supermarket plastic bags in the car so I can use them again when I go shopping and I often end up using them for plastic trash on the beach. Now, however, I have changed tactics. There is now a special bag that lives in the boot of my car which contains rubber gloves and large trash bags. We all have the power to do something in real life and if there are more of us out there trying to give Nature a helping hand, my belief is that it will bring even more people to make a conscious decision to actively do something about all that *&(%$#* plastic!
My heart just swelled double it's size. Bless these divers, showing this octopus and other humans how to treat nature.
poptartkf has a great idea! so happy for the octopus and grateful for the divers! YAY!!! ^_^ <3
I find them to be one of the most fascinating creatures! Good job divers! Keep those little guys safe.
thank you to the divers for taking care and making the unseen visible. On the subject of octopus - if books are your thing I can highly recommend 'The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness' by Sy Montgomery - scientific but reads like a novel.
Now THAT's a real heart warmer. I picture Sir Attenborough narrating this small gem.
This is beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Humans stepped in/up to save this little octopus, but have we all so quickly forgotten that we humans are the entire reason that this little creature needed our help? I remember in grade school and beyond, seeing the films/videos of the ocean and its inhabitants and thinking how wonderful it would be someday to see this beautiful ecosystems first hand; now I see video from wildlife conservationists showing how we are all destroying these places with our careless disposal of our trash. My husband and I are planning a cross country trip in 2021, a trip that will take us from landlocked Idaho to the beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters of northwestern Florida..I'm so worried about what we will see when we finally get there, will those beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters still be present
Northwestern Florida doesn’t really have crystal clear water. It has nice water and white sand beaches but it’s not crystal clear and never has been. 2021 is pretty much a year from now, so yeah, the beach will still be there.
Load More Replies...I believe the octopus can pull the edges of the shell together more tightly, if it's under attack. The plastic cup would be easily crushed.
Load More Replies...Not just cute, they're some of the most highly intelligent animals on earth, up there with dolphins and elephants. Don't eat 'em!
Load More Replies...If you love octopi, I recommend the latest episode on the NATURE program on PBS, their website is currently streaming the recent episode on a professor who documents his experience having an octopus as a temporary pet, it's fascinating (and FREE to watch) enjoy!
I keep thinking about the octopus that left it's tank to throw a rotten shrimp on his caretaker's desk... because it was rotten... And the fact that no one in the facility knew he could leave his tank until that very moment is priceless
Load More Replies...i just broke down crying because this is so sweet and pure!! thank you for doing this and thank you for sharing this !!
Oh wow, how good it feels to read this 😊! I really didn't know how to feel or rather think about myself, shortly after I realized, that I was crying right away after reading the headline and saw the picture.... 😌
Load More Replies...This is a wonderful video. I'm glad that the divers took the time to help the little octopus find a more suitable home. Octopuses are very intelligent. Notice how the little one feels up the merchandise for accepting anything.
That was incredibly cute! I just googled veined octopus and there are some amazing images of them.
Yeah. I accidentally googled veined oct puss and got some weird sites. Pretty neat but weird.
Load More Replies...Dear Sea Creatures, I am sorry for picking up sea shells that I found in the sea shore. I won't do it again.
I have a huge sea shell collection that I am now considering dropping back into the sea!
Load More Replies...This is the most moving humane display of gentle caring and understanding for another being I have witnessed in a very long time, thank you for sharing this.....
I have liked octopus and squid since seeing them in an aquarium. I felt a connection to them...will never eat calamari or the like again. This little guy is sooooo cute!
“As long as I personally like them, they deserve to live.” - Cindy Snow on animals.
Load More Replies...Interesting. I didn't know that people could interact with an octopus like that.
They're really intelligent creatures (by scientific standards), just search up some videos online and you'll see a lot of crazy stuff they can do and how they interact normally with humans
Load More Replies...Awww. It's been roundabout 6 years since I went diving the last time, and I rarely miss it as I had to discard it for other hobbies that bring me more joy. But in cases like this, I'd love to get my suit and an air bottle and go for it again :) Kudos to the divers helping this little guy!
This made me cry. What an amazing experience! And the comments were so cute. My faith in humanity just bumped up.
WOW! This great video showed how these wonderful intelligent creatures can communicate❤️👏
I always keep some supermarket plastic bags in the car so I can use them again when I go shopping and I often end up using them for plastic trash on the beach. Now, however, I have changed tactics. There is now a special bag that lives in the boot of my car which contains rubber gloves and large trash bags. We all have the power to do something in real life and if there are more of us out there trying to give Nature a helping hand, my belief is that it will bring even more people to make a conscious decision to actively do something about all that *&(%$#* plastic!
My heart just swelled double it's size. Bless these divers, showing this octopus and other humans how to treat nature.
poptartkf has a great idea! so happy for the octopus and grateful for the divers! YAY!!! ^_^ <3
I find them to be one of the most fascinating creatures! Good job divers! Keep those little guys safe.
thank you to the divers for taking care and making the unseen visible. On the subject of octopus - if books are your thing I can highly recommend 'The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness' by Sy Montgomery - scientific but reads like a novel.
Now THAT's a real heart warmer. I picture Sir Attenborough narrating this small gem.
This is beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Humans stepped in/up to save this little octopus, but have we all so quickly forgotten that we humans are the entire reason that this little creature needed our help? I remember in grade school and beyond, seeing the films/videos of the ocean and its inhabitants and thinking how wonderful it would be someday to see this beautiful ecosystems first hand; now I see video from wildlife conservationists showing how we are all destroying these places with our careless disposal of our trash. My husband and I are planning a cross country trip in 2021, a trip that will take us from landlocked Idaho to the beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters of northwestern Florida..I'm so worried about what we will see when we finally get there, will those beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters still be present
Northwestern Florida doesn’t really have crystal clear water. It has nice water and white sand beaches but it’s not crystal clear and never has been. 2021 is pretty much a year from now, so yeah, the beach will still be there.
Load More Replies...I believe the octopus can pull the edges of the shell together more tightly, if it's under attack. The plastic cup would be easily crushed.
Load More Replies...
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