Northwest Dive Club

Hello John: In a recent study by David Sheel in Alaska he has some evidence that suggests that there may be a second species that is very similar to the GPO but is unidentified as yet. That may put a wrinkle in our understanding of this animal if it turns out to be a complex like O. vulgaris. Scienc...

The male is tasting the water with his suckers and in particular he is tasting for a chemical that is produced by a female who is ready to mate. I should say, at this point, that I has not been proven that female GPO's produce pheromones but most of us are convinced it is true. Anybody want a M.Sc....

Welcome to NWDC, Jim! I hope that you will come here often to help educate us all on these marvelous animals. I have treasured your book since I bought it from you at the Dive Expo a few years back. It's simply wonderful and packed with useful information. - John Thanks for the welcome John and for...

I read your book while weathered in at the Browning Pass Hideaway a couple of years ago. Almost made up for not being able to dive! Seriously, I really enjoyed it and learned quite a few things about the animals that I hadn't known before. Thank you for the work that went into it! My pleasure and I...

I took some pics of a couple of mating GPO's once ... can't really tell who's doing what, though ... http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m257/NWGratefulDiver/IMG_0035.jpg http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m257/NWGratefulDiver/IMG_0037.jpg ... Bob (Grateful Diver) Nice photos Bob and they show the c...

A few months back I came across an octo denned in Cove 2 and shot this picture of what, based on Greg's comment in this thread, I now believe to be a spermatophore being blown out of the siphon. Does anyone know how long the females hold on to the spermatophore before ejecting it or just what is go...

The few observed matings of GPO's have averaged 245 minutes (4 hrs). I've only come across it once so far, two large ones out in the open in the daytime. Unfortunately I was set up for macro and couldn't get good images of the scene. The female had her eyes closed and started trying to crawl away, ...

Baby octopuses are amazing. The night I was lucky enough to watch a GPO hatch was one of the most awe-inspiring dives I've ever done. And you didn't have to be freezing cold, or do any deco, to watch yours! Do you recall the date and what time of night you saw the hatch? That would be useful inform...

An interesting little piece of information that reds will store sperm that long. Thanks for posting this.

Tom Nic wrote:Welcome! Love your book!

Thanks Tom for the welcome and your kind words about the book. Both are appreciated.

Jim

Magoi wrote:Welcome to the Board James! I have a copy of your book - it was a good read.

Thank you for the welcome and for your kind words about the book. Divers are the audience I wrote it for so it is pleasing to hear that you like it.

Jim

Penopolypants wrote:Welcome to the board!

Thank you.

Joshua Smith wrote:Welcome to the NWDC! It's very exciting to have a real expert around. Like pretty much everyone else here, I love GPOs.

Thanks for the welcome.

Greetings all. I am new to this website but a cold water diver for more that 50 years. I have an extensive background in scientific diving (Diving Safety Officer for the University of Victoria for 30 years, founding member for the Canadian Association for Underwater Science, etc.). As a marine biolo...

Some very interesting observations and photos in this chain of comments. I have been studying the reproduction of the GPO for the past 20 years or so. All my observations have been done in the wild so I have not had the opportunity to document a mating from beginning to end. Those observations have ...