It's being considered a once-in-a-lifetime event!
There are a ton of mysteries that surround our planet's vast oceans, as they're famously under-explored. So when we get a glimpse of one of the rare creatures that inhabit our oceans, it's super exciting! And that's exactly what happened when reef guide and marine biologist Jacinta Shackleton filmed an extremely rare animal in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Shackleton filmed the blanket octopus off the coast of Lady Elliot Island and it's the first time anyone has seen the animal in 21 years.
"When I first saw it, I thought it could have been a juvenile fish with long fins," she told The Guardian. "But as it came closer, I realized it was a female blanket octopus and I had this overwhelming sense of joy and excitement. I kept yelling through my snorkel, 'it’s a blanket octopus!' I was so excited I was finding it difficult to hold my breath to dive down and video it."
Watch the incredible footage of the blanket octopus captured by Shackleton below:
“Seeing one in real life is indescribable,” she continued. “I was so captivated by its movements, it was as if it was dancing through the water with a flowing cape. The vibrant colors are just so incredible, you can’t take your eyes off it. I’ve truly never seen anything like it before and don’t think I ever will again in my life.”
Pretty remarkable, right?
Have you ever had any wildlife encounters? Send us your photos/videos!