Out of nearly 2,000 dives as a scientist, dive guide, and devoted ocean explorer, this was among the most unforgettable. For 20 mesmerizing minutes at the heart of the Coral Triangle in Nusa Penida, Indonesia, two curious octopuses posed gracefully against a kaleidoscope of reef life and rocky ocean currents. One even wrapped its tentacles around my camera rig, playfully tapping at the strobes—a moment of connection that transformed an extraordinary dive into the most memorable octopus encounter of my life.