It’s time for the octopi in Puget Sound to stand up and be counted! Well, it would be if they could stand up. But let’s keep it real—they’re octopi! They’re made to slither in the ocean, not stand on firm legs.

The Puget Sound octopus census happens every year. Divers come to count the giant Pacific octopi living in the bay. Last year, they counted 17. This year, they counted 28. The numbers often shrink and grow in this way.

Many divers come to Puget Sound just for the giant octopus—even though the water is cold and dark and the octopi are tricky to find.
Would you like diving into the ocean and looking for octopi? The great Pacific octopus can weigh as much as 150 pounds. Its tentacles can span up to 20 feet. It’s the biggest octopus in the world and one of the smartest creatures in the sea. At night it hunts for crab, clams, and scallops. The giant Pacific octopus is usually reddish-brown. But it can change colors and textures to make itself blend in to its surroundings. What a wild creature of God!