By Mary L. Peachin with photos by Cameron Azad
June, 2011 Vol. 15, No. 8
“I only waited twenty seven years for this.” Veteran scuba diver Jan Hanson was speaking of an extraordinary experience. She and Bill Kimball, during their first dive on a trip to the Philippine islands of Anilao and Puerta Galera (Sabang) observed a deadly blue ring octopus. They saw the cotton ball-sized critter on the reef of Anilao’s Kirby Island. The ocean’s most dangerous critter, usually holed deep into the wall, is rarely seen by divers. The small octopus only flashes its electric-blue spots defensively. Those of us who have seen them have witnessed those iridescent blue circles, which most likely means that they find the flash of a camera to be threatening.