2025-08-09T19:59:02Z

---

Imagine diving into the deep blue only to find a giant Pacific octopus that not only swims into frame but also decides to borrow your camera! That's exactly what happened to videographer John Roney and his diving buddy Chris Mullen off the coast of Vancouver Island.

On August 5, the pair ventured to Nanoose Bay, a hotspot for observing these intelligent creatures, when they encountered a particularly large octopus, stretching an impressive three meters from arm to arm. Little did they know, this octopus had a flair for cinematography!

As Roney recounts, the octopus seemed unbothered by their presence, curiously exploring their equipment. He recalls, "It sort of approached us directly, hopped, and explored my camera, and then I just let go of my camera and I let it have it for a couple of minutes."

The result? A breathtaking video showcasing the octopus's vibrant pink underbelly and its sucker-covered arms gracefully fanning out like an umbrella over the lens. Roney couldn’t help but chuckle as he described how the octopus even aimed the camera at a wall, seemingly filming its own underwater masterpiece. "It was carrying the camera around for a little bit... It was even kind enough to use its suckers to turn it off after (the camera) was running for about three minutes," he laughed.

Roney, who has dedicated years to underwater film, declared the octopus a “ten out of ten underwater videographer.” He admitted, "Honestly, the best footage of inside an octopus' web I've seen an octopus take. Better than me by far," adding a playful jab at his buddy Mullen.

After its impromptu filming session, the octopus demonstrated an unexpected side: it jumped onto Mullen, wrapping its arms around him in a gentle hug. Roney was quick to capture this affectionate moment, stating, "And so you could see it was holding on to him, but it wasn't grabbing him. Chris looked like he was having a good time." Mullen echoed this sentiment, saying, "It was a very gentle hug. This is what I was hoping for, this was what I wanted."

But what’s behind this unique behavior? Marine biologist Jennifer Mather, who specializes in octopus studies, explained that the interaction wasn’t about the octopus taking a selfie. Instead, it was simply the creature's natural curiosity. According to Mather, when octopuses come across something intriguing—like a shiny camera—they often pick it up and investigate, which is exactly what viewers witnessed in the video.

“The camera was still running, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the octopus taking selfies. Sorry,” she said, clarifying that these animals are highly intelligent, exhibiting behaviors akin to those of cats. They often prefer to hide from divers, but a shiny object like a camera might just pique their interest.

As Roney reflects on his numerous dives—over 1,500 in total—he acknowledges that he has only had a couple of meaningful encounters with these incredible creatures. “Giant Pacific octopuses are fascinating, interactive animals, and every single time I encounter one, I can’t get enough of them,” he shared enthusiastically.

"It’s amazing to see how captivated people are by these intelligent and curious animals, showing us a glimpse of the wonders of our local marine life. They are so different from anything that you'd see on land,” Roney concluded, emphasizing the importance of these encounters in educating people about the beauty of marine ecosystems.