Cuttlefish, Squid and Octopus

[sijomon]

Hi,

I'm really keen to see some cephalopods in the wild. Since I can't afford (either time-wise or money-wise) to go diving abroad, I was wondering how common these are in British waters, and what the best areas and times of year are for them? I'm based in Yorskhire so obviously any spots closer to me are of particular interest, but I am willing to travel anywhere I can drive to really. Also are there any particularly spectacual events that I can look out for; I'm thinking mass migrations, mass spawnings etc

Any help would be great.

Thanks,

Simon.

[Ed Howarth]

Cuttlefish and octopus seen in Melfort Loch last weekend, just off the pier. Also thornback rays. All at 4 metres.

Me and wife saw none of these. :mad:

Ed

[wendydive]

Cuttlefish can be seen in Babbacombe Bay near Torquay. Had an Octopus land on my hand at Trearddur Bay ( anglesey). Have dive kit will travel!

[PeteM]

Cuttle fish just about any shallow reef on the south or west coast late summer.

Octopus in the Farnes

[bythesea]

Cuttles I see from spring to autumn in Torbay, octopus, Plymouth, squid I have seen this year in Salcombe and Plymouth. I have also seen these in Cornwall, Octopus being the least common, cuttles the most common.

[ChristianG]

Cuttle fish just about any shallow reef on the south or west coast late summer.
Interesting. Our cuttlefish (http://australian-animals.net/cuttle.htm) are, apparently, considerably larger than yours and, as it says in the URL I've provided, I've found them in water up to 70 metres deep.

I was diving a local site called "Two White Houses" quite some time ago (pre GPS because the site name refers to the land marks) when I noticed a boulder moving in my peripheral vision. A more direct examination revealed a rather large cuttlefish, approximately boulder size.

You often come across cuttlefish bones on the surface. I always collect them because a friend has budgies. There is a place in South Australia well known for large congregations of them in the breeding season but seeing as they're pretty common locally (you'll find one or two on pretty well every dive) I couldn't be bothered. Actually, finding baby cuttlefish, fist sized or smaller, can be a dive highlight but the bigger ones are pretty ho hum.

[Gav S]

I have seen both octopus and cuttlefish at St Abbs - the octopus was out in the open and it was brilliant to see him/her/it making its way across the seabed. I know its a bit of a cliche but when I looked into its eye there really was the sensation of a thinking creature looking back.

The cuttlefish was tiny with a little red colouring on its body - never seen one since. In fact, sadly I have only ever seen one of each creature and I dive quite a lot...saying that, I know many people who have seen at least octopus round Abbs and I daresay if you learn habitat/behaviour you would increase your chances.

[voltiana]

One of our club members saw a cuttle fish in Kimmeridge Bay earlier this year

Volty

[bomber]

seen cuttlefish while diving at Porth Kerris, must be lots round the south coast as one year i collected 70 bones (well the budgie likes them)

Also seen Octopus at Eyemouth... fishermen arent happy cos the get in the post n eat their catch before they can lift the pots, apparently its brown octopus that is up there and there is a good market for them in france.

[Chris Marsh]

Cuttlefish commonly seen in Alum Bay, Isle of Wight.

[northern_diver]

Saw a nice cuttlefish in loch long over the weekend, was good, saw one there last november too.

John

[sijomon]

Is the location and frequency of Cephelopod sitings the sort of thing sea search would be recording, and if so anyone know how I can get hold of their data?

Thanks.

[bythesea]

You have just been given data Si... no, its alright, don't mention it....

[sijomon]

Good point; thanks everyone who's responded so far.

[Dawn Watson]

Yes, Seasearch do collect the data. It's held on the NBN gateway, the least user friendly system in the world. If you can get it to work, type in the latin name of the species in question and you'll be shown which areas they were seen in. Maybe.

Little cuttles (the ones the size of bumblebees) hang round in the sand off Norfolk, there's probably loads off Yorkshire too.

[benltdiverdude]

Seen a few cuttle fish off south Cornwall and Devon, not sure its the sort of thing you can travel specifically to see though! i do remember having access to a website that gives tonnes of statistics based on sightings sent in by divers and dive clubs! ill see if i can find a link for you! would be interesting to see if there was hot spots for certain things like this.
Ben

[HelmGuy]

We've seen Cuttlefish reasonable often at Babbacombe. I've yet to see a Octopus in the UK. ;-(

[allen]

We've seen Cuttlefish reasonable often at Babbacombe. I've yet to see a Octopus in the UK. ;-(
I saw 2 octopii (sp?) in Plymouth Sound last year - first I've ever seen in the UK, but others have seen them off Salcombe

[mandarintree]

What about cuttlefish near Ireland?

[paul_c]

i saw a large octo in torbay near flat rock last year. it just sat there and only when it opened an eye did i realsie what it was.

like bts says trhey are always in torbay in the late summer en mass.

[Jen - Winged Blob]

Saw an octopus up at St Abbs once, and kicked myself for not having taken my camera on that dive! I took it on the next one, and blow me but we saw another octopus (or the same one and it was stalking us). How lucky was that! :)