A snorkeller exploring a rock pool in Kiama, on New South Wales’ South Coast, has made a rare and potentially deadly discovery—a blue-lined octopus, one of the most venomous creatures in the ocean.
Scott Gutterson, an experienced snorkeller who has spent years diving in the area, was surprised to spot the small but dangerous creature while swimming in the popular rock pool earlier this month.
“It looked like a 50-cent-sized rock that wasn’t moving,” he told Yahoo News Australia. “I must have got too close because it got defensive, and its colour changed a lot.” The blue lines appeared as a warning signal, which is typical behaviour for the species when it feels threatened.
A Rare and Dangerous Encounter
The blue-lined octopus is a type of blue-ringed octopus, carrying enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes. Their bite is usually painless and often only happens if someone picks them up. Despite their deadly toxin, these octopuses are normally shy and hard to find.
According to the Australian Museum, there have been at least three deaths and several near-fatal incidents linked to blue-ringed octopus bites in Australia.
Scott said he had never seen one before, despite spending eight years diving in the area and regularly encountering marine life like rays and sharks. “My friend has gone to places where they know blue octopuses are there, and hasn’t seen one,” he said. “They’re very little creatures that are hard to spot.”
A Moment That Drew Attention
The encounter happened in clear, shallow water, attracting the attention of other visitors at the rock pool. People gathered to watch as Scott took photos of the octopus, which slowly cruised through the water before disappearing again.
Scott returned to the rock pool twice after the sighting, hoping to find the creature again, but was unsuccessful.
“It caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see one in the rock pool that day,” he said. “To see this little guy just cruising past… it was just amazing.”
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