Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Sighting evidence at Arrecife de las Sirenas, Almería
Photo: Susanne Spindler · CC BY-NC-ND
The volcanic rubble between posidonia patches at Arrecife de las Sirenas supports one of the highest octopus densities in the western Mediterranean, and skilled guides can typically find five or more individuals on a single 45-minute dive. Their colour changes while hunting over the boundary between sand and meadow are among the most dramatic macro-photography subjects available in European diving. Autumn is peak activity season when individuals are most actively foraging before winter inactivity reduces sightings.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Common Octopus is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.