Latest news with #JohnRoney
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A giant octopus reached for a filmmaker's camera. In a split-second decision, he let go of the camera
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Underwater filmmaker John Roney has completed around 1,500 dives in his career, but a dive earlier this month off the coast of Vancouver Island will likely remain a highlight of his career spent underwater – because an octopus borrowed his camera and proceeded to take footage of its web of suction-cupped tentacles. Roney (@roneydives) was diving with friend and diver Chris Mullen in an area known for housing large octopus when a particularly large Giant Pacific Octopus took an interest in the camera equipment. The creature had begun exploring the equipment with its tentacles when Roney made a decision: to let go of the camera. 'The moment it reached out, I could see it was curious,' Roney told Digital Camera World. 'It quickly engulfed my entire camera rig, exploring it with its suckers. I realized this was a rare chance to see what it would do if I stepped back completely, so I let it have the camera and take the lead. That choice gave us a perspective you almost never get.' The decision to let go of the camera resulted in a rare glimpse of an octopus' underbelly as the create took the camera and swam with it while continuing to explore the equipment, eventually hitting the button to stop the recording with one of its suction cups and, once its curiosity was satisfied, dropping the camera to the ocean floor. The camera in question was a Panasonic Lumix GH6, which was encased in a Nauticam housing, and survived the animal encounter. 'It's a tough setup, which is lucky because an animal that size can be incredibly strong,' Roney said. That's particularly lucky considering one biologist says the way the octopus handled the camera is similar to how the animals act when they find something 'potentially edible.' Marine biologist Jennifer Mather told CBC News said the octopus wasn't actually trying to take a selfie, but that octopuses are curious creatures and will often pick up objects and put them underneath their web of tentacles. After the large octopus explored the camera, the creature then explored Mullen, reaching out to give the diver a tentacled 'hug,' which, naturally, Roney caught on camera. The resulting video footage has garnered the attention of news outlets and racked up thousands of likes on social media. 'It's been amazing to see how many people are fascinated by it,' Roney said. 'I think it's the combination of a giant Pacific octopus's intelligence, its otherworldly nature, and the unusual perspective from inside its arms that really captured people's imaginations. If the video gets more people curious about these animals and the ocean they live in, that's a win.' Out of the roughly 1,500 dives that he's completed over the course of his career, he estimates that he's only had two encounters with an octopus that close. The octopus approached the two divers after they went by – an important distinction, as approaching an octopus on a dive can distress the creature. Along with being an underwater filmmaker, Roney is also a television editor, including editing work on a series with Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen. Roney's underwater films have taken him all over the world and have been part of several documentaries. You may also like Browse the best cameras for wildlife photography, the best cameras for filmmakers or the best waterproof cameras. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Octopus selfie off Vancouver Island as giant Pacific take camera from diver
Two divers got a surprise when an octopus decided it could do a better job at underwater photography - and took their videographers, John Roney and Chris Mullen, were diving off the coast of Vancouver Island in an area known for its giant Pacific came across several of the creatures, but one octopus in particular was as interested in them as they were in it. After climbing all over the two divers, the octopus was drawn to one of their cameras. John said: "It reached out, stretched its arms and engulfed my camera completely giving us this incredible view of its suckers."John let go of the camera and for a while the octopus carried the kit around making its own "personal photoshoot", even managing to turn the camera off after a few minutes. Chris said: "It's just the coolest thing to see"So what did experienced videographer John Roney think of the filming? "Ten out of 10 underwater videographer for the octopus," Roney told CBC. "Honestly, the best footage of inside an octopus's web I've seen an octopus take."
CBC
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
This giant Pacific octopus was ready for its close-up
Underwater videographers John Roney and Chris Mullen tell CBC's The National about the moment a curious octopus grabbed their camera during a dive in Nanoose Bay off Vancouver Island.
CBC
12-08-2025
- CBC
#TheMoment a giant Pacific octopus grabbed a camera and took a selfie
Underwater videographers John Roney and Chris Mullen tell The National about the moment they had their camera hijacked by a curious giant Pacific octopus off the coast of Vancouver Island.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Giant Pacific octopus shoots video of itself after claiming camera from B.C. divers
When it comes to cinematography, a giant Pacific octopus that borrowed a camera from two divers earns a solid "10 out of 10." Underwater videographer John Roney said he and his longtime diving buddy Chris Mullen went out on Aug. 5 to Nanoose Bay on the east side of Vancouver Island, a renowned spot for large octopus. Roney said they came across several, but one "particularly large" octopus — as large as three metres wide, arm to arm — caught their attention. It was resting under a ledge, but immediately showed interest in them after they passed by, he said. "It sort of approached us directly, hopped, and explored my camera, and then I just let go of my camera and I let it have it for a couple of minutes," said Roney. The resulting video was a mesmerizing display of the creature's pink underbelly, its sucker-covered arms fanned out like an umbrella over the camera. "It was carrying the camera around for a little bit, aiming it at a wall and stuff. It was doing some filming on its own," laughed Roney, "It was even kind enough to use its suckers to turn it off after (the camera) was running for about three minutes." Roney, a Vancouver Island-based underwater videographer who has been working as a documentary filmmaker for many years, said the animal's camera work was excellent. "Ten out of 10 underwater videographer for the octopus," Roney said "Honestly, the best footage of inside an octopus' web I've seen an octopus take." "Better than me by far," Mullen quipped. Roney later posted the video online, giving the octopus a credit. The footage has received thousands of likes and comments. After the animal was done with the camera, it jumped onto Mullen with its arms around him and suckers on his mask. Roney said he was able to capture the "hug." Rather than being aggressive, the octopus appeared curious, using its suckers to explore its environment, Roney said. "And so you could see it was holding on to him, but it wasn't grabbing him," said Roney, "Chris looked like he was having a good time." "It was a very gentle hug," recalled Mullen about the close encounter, "This is what I was hoping for, this was what I wanted." Roney said he has done about 1,500 dives over the years, but has only had two close interactions with an octopus. Giant Pacific octopuses are fascinating, interactive animals, and every single time he encounters one, he can't get enough of them, Roney said. Victoria-born marine biologist Jennifer Mather has watched the video, and said the octopus wasn't deliberately taking a selfie even though its work was beautiful. Mather, an octopus expert with the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, said when an octopus finds something interesting and potentially edible, it will pick it up and put it underneath the arm web, which is exactly what we see in the video. "And the person who had the camera, of course, got pictures because the camera was still running. But it doesn't have anything to do with the octopus taking selfies. Sorry," said Mather. Mather said the animals are very smart in other ways, likening their personalities to cats. In most situations, when they see divers who crowd around them, they'll sneak away or hide, but an underwater camera with shiny, fresh lights could be quite interesting to them, making them wonder what they can do with it. "Because octopuses do play — not social play, but object play," said Mather. Roney said the community response to the video has been incredible. "You really see that people are fascinated by these animals because they're so intelligent and they're so curious, and they're also so otherworldly, right. They're so different from anything that you'd see on land," he said. "And it makes me happy to see people seeing our local marine life here." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025. Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
