Giant Pacific Octopus

Photo: Jen Strongin · CC BY-NC-ND

The rocky crevices and kelp holdfasts at Race Rocks provide ideal denning habitat for giant Pacific octopus, and multiple resident animals can be found on any given dive. The site's strong tidal currents deliver a constant supply of crabs and other prey, supporting octopuses that grow exceptionally large. Their presence here has been documented continuously for decades, with some dens apparently occupied by successive generations of animals.