Monday, November 5, 2012 9:59am PST
Diver's capture of a beloved giant Pacific octopus sparks outrage
By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com
For scuba divers off Seattle's Cove 2, one of the coolest sightings is that of a giant Pacific octopus, an intelligent and mysterious creature that is a master of disguise and, thus, typically elusive.
And apparently, one of the most uncool acts is to capture and kill one of these remarkable creatures, especially while other divers are present.
That's what Dylan Miller, 19, did during a recent dive, and the episode went viral. Critics surfaced on dive sites, blogs and social media platforms, hammering Miller even though he had a fishing license and did not violate any laws.
He said he killed the 80-pound octopus to draw it for an art project, and for its meat. But he has since received threats and, like an octopus, is trying to keep a low profile.
"They value the life of an octopus and they are threatening a family," Denise Mayer, Dylan's mom, told the Seattle Times. "They put his life below that of an octopus. It's gone way overboard."
Diver's capture of a beloved giant Pacific octopus sparks outrage
Samson, just don't go do anything crazy now.