World Octopus Day: Meet the Ocean's Weirdest Neighbor
Carolyn Bryan Oct 08, 2026
Today, October 8, is World Octopus Day. Nobody is quite sure who started it. It isn't an official holiday, and its origins are murky. We're celebrating anyway, because octopuses are one of the best reasons we know to get in the water.
Three Hearts, Blue Blood
An octopus has three hearts. Two of them push blood past the gills, where it picks up oxygen. The third sends that oxygen-rich blood out to the rest of the body.
The blood is blue, too. Instead of the iron in our blood, octopus blood relies on a copper-based protein, and the copper is what gives it the color. The Smithsonian has a great rundown if you want the full science.
A Brain That Isn't Just in the Head
Here's the one that gets people. About two-thirds of an octopus's neurons are in its arms, not its head. That means each arm can do a lot of its own thinking.
If you've ever tried to multitask, imagine doing it with eight arms that each have opinions.
Why Divers Get a Little Obsessed
Octopuses are masters of camouflage, so spotting one takes patience. Most of the time you're looking at what seems like a rock, and then the rock looks back at you.
That's a big part of why a good octopus sighting becomes the story divers tell for years. It also takes the skills you build in training: calm breathing, good buoyancy, and slowing way down. Look, don't touch, and let the octopus decide how the encounter goes.
You Can't Meet One From the Beach
Here's the honest part. Snorkeling gets you a glimpse. Certification gets you the time, the depth, and the confidence to actually look around for one.
Our PADI Open Water Diver course is where it starts. It's the certification that lets you dive with a buddy almost anywhere in the world, which is a pretty good way to put yourself in octopus territory. And if you want to try it before committing, a PADI Discover Scuba session is a low-pressure first step.
Ready to Go Find One?
Take a look at the Open Water course page or get in touch and we'll help you pick a start date. Happy World Octopus Day!
