Invertebrate
Wonderpus octopus
Wunderpus photogenicus
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
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reported alongside mimic octopus on the bay's sand flats, more often on dusk and night dives than in the middle of the day.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
A regular muck-site octopus at Secret Bay and similar black-sand slopes; often active at dusk.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
One of the cephalopod draws of the Dauin sand; seen emerging over the muck at dawn and dusk, but not on every dive.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Present year-round at muck sites such as Hairball and TK; most active in low light and not seen every dive.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Reported on Romblon's sand and rubble macro sites. No defensible seasonal peak or encounter rate was found.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Listed among the muck species in the Bunga to Malitbog stretch, often on night dives. Uncommon and easily confused with the mimic octopus.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 1 source and checking notes
- 15 Best Dive Sites of the Lembeh Strait, Infinite Blue Dive Travel