Some time ago, I received a phone call from the National Enquirer. Just so that you don’t get it confused with National Geographic, the National Enquirer is a publication like the ones you find at the checkout counter of your local grocery store. They were told that I had an extensive collection of photos of the Giant Pacific Octopus, the largest octopus in the world. They wanted a photo of a female diver holding this octopus, and wanted to publish it with a story about the Giant Pacific Octopus. I agreed to send them several slides, providing that the article did not make the octopus out to be a “slimy denizen of the deep who sinks ships and eats the crew.” They assured me that they would not do that.
We came to an agreement on my fee, and I sent them an assortment of slides to choose from. In about a week I received another call from them, complaining that the girl was wearing a wet suit. They informed me that she must have on a bikini bathing suit. After collecting myself, I advised them of the water temperature in British Columbia. In a few words, it is “very cold!” That didn’t seem to bother them as they still wanted to know if I could meet their request. After further wage negotiations, my fee going up considerably, they agreed. When I hung up the phone, I wondered which insane asylum to check into.
After an extensive search, I finally found a girl who met the criteria. Previously, I had done some underwater photography at the Undersea Gardens in Victoria, B.C. I called them and explained the situation to the Curator. He thought it would be great publicity for his business, and readily accepted my proposal. To get to the viewing area of the Undersea Gardens, you walk down a flight of stairs that takes you below sea level (but in a dry environment). You can then look through huge windows at what is actually part of the ocean. You can view all of the undersea life that you would see in the open ocean. The only difference is that the undersea life is in an enclosed area and can’t get out. It is much like an aquarium but is actually part of the ocean.
The Curator informed me that they had recently captured a Giant Pacific Octopus and that it was in the viewing area. We agreed on a date to accomplish my unusual request, and not it was about to happen!
As my diving buddy, David, and I submerged us into the beautiful Undersea Gardens, the sight was breathtaking! We were in an enclosed area about twelve feet deep containing colourful rockfish, anemones, the head of a large male wolfeel jutting out from a rocky cave, and so much more. But our mission was not about any of these creatures. We were looking for the elusive Giant Pacific Octopus. David’s job was to find the octopus, and bring it to Miriam, our bikini-clad model. My sole job was to take as many pictures of her holding it, as I could, for the short time that she could endure the frigid water (in her bikini!).
Photo Credit: Jim Willowby
David found the octopus, after searching most of the caves, as that’s the environment they prefer. As David wrestled it from its lair, its never-ending sucker discs, tentacles and mantle came pouring out, squirting ink, which landed squarely on David. After a brief struggle he brought the octopus into position for the series of pictures that I was determined to get.
It was a cold, bleak November day, as a brisk wind blew the rain in sheets across Victoria Harbour. Miriam stood there poised, clad only in a brief, green bikini and her diving gear. She was covered with a huge blanket to keep her warm. She looked down into the clear, cold ocean that was patiently waiting to engulf her in its nine degree centigrade water. As I gave her the signal, she jumped with grim determination and lots of sheer guts, knowing she was about to accomplish what few people have ever attempted. With a quiet splash, the icy waters of Victoria’s Undersea Gardens closed over her, beginning an experience she would never forget. Wrestling a giant octopus, even in a wet suit, is difficult, but to do it in a bikini is almost impossible. She landed on the exact spot that I was signaling her to use.
David handed her the octopus. The next few minutes were filled with ink, sucker discs, excitement and an occasional glimpse of Miriam, who almost lost her tank once and her mask twice. Amid this chaotic confusion, it was my job to frame this writhing mass of tentacles, with Miriam for 1/60th of a second. After an amazing ten minutes immersed in the icy waters, wrestling with this huge creature, Miriam’s limit of endurance was reached.
From the cold waters of the Undersea Gardens emerged a tired, shaken, but very brave girl. She knew she had probably set a record-ten minutes in the chilling Victoria Harbour with only a bikini and a giant octopus to keep her warm. The National Enquirer was very excited about the pictures I sent them. They published the photo and the article to a public who will never know how difficult it is to get an underwater snapshot of a girl in a bikini holding a Giant Pacific Octopus!