Invertebrate

Wonderpus octopus

Wunderpus photogenicus

IUCN status: Unknown

A slender long-armed octopus with a fixed rusty-brown-and-white pattern unique to each individual, often confused with the mimic octopus. Emerges over open sand, usually around dawn and dusk. A classic Lembeh macro target.

Max size
~30cm arm span
Habitat
Sand and rubble flats

Best places to dive with Wonderpus octopus

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak season
Anilao, Batangas
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

A regular muck-site octopus at Secret Bay and similar black-sand slopes; often active at dusk.

Dauin
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

One of the cephalopod draws of the Dauin sand; seen emerging over the muck at dawn and dusk, but not on every dive.

Lembeh Strait
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Present year-round at muck sites such as Hairball and TK; most active in low light and not seen every dive.

Sources & last checked

Checked July 2026

This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.