South Carolina Mother, Daughter Report Rare Sighting Of Sea Creature
By Sarah Tate
February 7, 2022
Taking a walk along the coast is a fun way to take a break and see the natural beauty of sea life. Maybe you find a sand dollar hidden on the beach or spot a dolphin enjoying a swim in the ocean. For one mother and daughter in South Carolina, they got to witness a rare sighting of a sea creature as it sat in the clear waters in North Myrtle Beach.
According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Heather Leon and her mother were recently walking along North Myrtle Beach when they came across a common Atlantic octopus resting in the shallow water. While the octopus is typically seen in neutral colors, as they can easily shift hues to blend in to the sea floor, Leon and her mother saw the mollusk in its brightly-colored red form, per ABC News 4.
The SCDNR shared a short clip on its official Facebook page of the octopus in its full form before it swims away into deeper water.
Check out the video below.
Heather Leon and her mother were walking along the water’s edge in North Myrtle Beach last week when they encountered an extraordinary sight. A brightly colored common Atlantic octopus was resting in the shallow water, and she captured on video the moment it swam away with a graceful flourish. Native to our waters but rarely seen inshore, the octopus may have been warming itself in the sunny pool. “It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and I’m so grateful,” she said.
Posted by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on Thursday, February 3, 2022
"It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and I'm so grateful," Leon said.
According the SCDNR, the common Atlantic octopus is a native of South Carolina waters, but is not usually seen inshore. They believe it could have found its way close to the shore in order to warm itself in the shallow water.