Octopus vs. Submarine
Rare video footage shows a giant octopus attacking a small submarine off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Salmon researchers working on the Brooks Peninsula were shocked last November when an octopus attacked their expensive and sensitive equipment.
The giant Pacific octopus weighs about 45 kilograms, powerful enough to damage Mike Wood’s remote-controlled submarine.
From “Video captures octopus attack on sub in B.C..” Video links on the CBC page. [Update: check out the the voice over at Irregular Times [link to http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2006/01/28/octopus-dofleini-attack/ no longer works]. I do question the ability of a five year old to independently and authoritatively answer a leading question like “Is it a nice octopus?” However, alternate and plausible interpretations are welcome.]
Is this really an attack? Take a look at the video again.
Looks to me like it’s just a curious octopus. As soon as it touches the submarine with a tentacle, the sub operator blasts at it with the thrusters. Who attacked who?
I asked my son, and added his audio commentary to the video, with the following results:
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2006/01/28/octopus-dofleini-attack/
We should think about whether what we are told we are seeing is really what we are seeing.