2nd Place Marine Life Behavior

Louise Nott

"A Mother's Watchful Eye"

Louise Nott won a DS-160 Strobe from Ikelite

The Story: Travel restrictions due to Covid-19 have allowed me to explore more of the Great Southern Reef and I have recently spent some time diving around Bass Point in Shellharbour, around 1.5 hours south of my home in Sydney. There are a number of small dive sites around the reserve that showcase the beauty of the cool water temperate reefs, and in particular are a nursery site for numerous species including the Gloomy Octopus, Octopus tetricus.  

After mating, the female octopus finds a suitable den to lay her fertilised eggs, tucking herself into a crevice. She then will spend the rest of her life meticulously caring for her brood, marking the beginning of the end. She will not eat and will do anything to protect them from predators. Her festoons of eggs are attached to the top of a rock crevice and the new mother will continuously pump water to oxygenate and clean them. After months of care, the planktonic young emerge from the safety of their mother's watch, ready to explore the big blue. 

I have been fortunate to find a few octopus dens, with eggs at different stages of development. I am always very conscious of not disturbing her with my presence and equipment and despite only ever taking a few frames, I always swim away with a memory and experience that I will never forget!

Location:  Shellharbour, Australia

Equipment Used:  Nikon D850 Camera, Nikon 105mm f/2.8G AF-S VR IF-ED Lens, Nauticam Housing, Dual Inon Z330 Strobes

Camera Settings: 1/32, F32, ISO 100

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