In An Octopus's Garden

Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the universe? Visiting different planets in distant galaxies seems appealing but I would rather go into the oceans of our own planet. The depths of the seas may seem to have as much life as mars, with absolutely no light penetrating through to the bottom. In reality, the dark abyss of every ocean is teeming with life, much of it still undiscovered.  The creatures, whose existence we know of, are fascinating. Saying they are relatively large is an understatement. The Giant Spider Crab can reach a length of 12 feet from claw tip to claw tip. The Giant squid, first captured on screen only in 2013, can be as tall as a two-storey house. In spite of the size of these creatures, they are still difficult to find and often go unnoticed. They seem like creatures that could star in any interesting sci-fi movie. It’s not just their size or their deep-sea gigantism that is fascinating. They have various unique adaptations to survive in a habitat as inhospitable as Pluto. The Anglerfish takes advantage of the darkness to use its bright lure to attract prey. The Fangtooth fish, as the name suggests and the Wolf fish have extremely sharp teeth which are so long the fish find it hard to close their mouths. They too would be perfect for a sci-fi movie. The Vampire squid, named so not because of a thirst for blood but because their tentacles, when extended, resemble the type of cloak vampires (especially Dracula) have been associated with. In the darkness of the deep sea, bio-luminescence has become common in organisms to either attract prey or disorient predators. Their displays of luminescence can match any display of lights on land in big cities. Atolla or Crown jellyfish use bio-luminescence as a last resort or a final plea for help when being attacked. It’s mesmerizing, luminescent display draws the attention of the attacker’s predator that kills and feeds on the attacker giving the Atolla time to escape. In the deep sea too, an enemy’s enemy is a friend. These interesting creatures are just a fraction of what actually exists in that mysterious realm of the ocean. It’s absurd that we’re trying to find life on other planets when we haven’t even discovered all the life on our own. There is still so much left to uncover. Mike deGruy, an underwater cinematographer, described the deep sea as the best place to go to see something you've never seen before or to see something no one has ever seen before. So if I could go anywhere in the universe (and return alive) I would quote the Beatles and say:

           “ I’d like to be,

              Under the sea

              In an Octopus’s garden,

              In the shade. ”