The Story of the Giant Octopus in Alaska in 2020 🐙 In 2020, underwater photographer Justin Hofman was scuba diving off the coast of Alaska, home to the giant Pacific octopus, the largest octopus species in the world. They can span more than 4.5 meters (over 15 feet) from arm tip to arm tip and weigh over 50–70 kg, with some individuals exceeding 100 kg. While diving, Justin encountered a giant octopus that had just caught a crab. It was puffed up and highly excited. The octopus approached him, first wrapping its tentacles around his camera. Then it began to “explore” Justin with curiosity even using its specially long arm (the one used to seek out mates) to touch and feel him. Justin decided to offer his hand so he could feel the suckers. At first the octopus got a little too interested and pulled quite hard. When Justin gently pulled his hand back, it seemed to understand right away and became much gentler. After that, it continued to explore his dry suit and scuba gear in a very careful manner. Justin later recalled: “It felt like a true interaction between two thinking beings… like meeting an alien.” An octopus’s suckers are extremely sensitive, almost as if each one has its own “brain”, allowing them to sense and process information with remarkable precision. After a few minutes of mutual curiosity, the octopus realized Justin was neither food, nor a potential mate, nor a threat. It calmly crawled away through the kelp and disappeared among the rocks. The video of this moment clearly shows the intelligence, curiosity, and even a sense of boundaries in octopuses, the very reasons scientists consider them among the most intelligent animals in the ocean.