Just one of our recent critter discoveries was this beautiful little Mimic Octopus, found on the sandy bottom in at 15m on one of our out lying dive sites close to our PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Centre.
Richard was leading a couple of divers who had joined us for a multiple day dive package within TARP when they came across this master of disguise and camouflage.
Unlike many other Octopodidae the Mimic is active during the day foraging for crustaceans, often using the same resting burrow for days at a time the Mimic Octopus can sometimes be revisited.
This octopus gets its name from its ability to impersonate the appearance and behavior of other animals, particularly poisonous ones such as lionfish and banded seasnake.
For more information on Octopus and Squid please visit our field guide.
Our guests are often surprised to see such rare and fascinating marine life on dive sites within the national park.
Please join us next time you are passing Kota Kinabalu, visit our paradise island based Dive and Adventure Centre on Gaya Island and Dive or Snorkel Downbelow to catch a glimse of some of our wonderful mairne life.
[jAC]
