Our own John Rawlings in NW Dive News!

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:47 am

I haven't read it yet

, but NWDC's own John Rawlings

has a lengthy article on GPO's in the latest edition of NW Dive News!! It says it's on page 44

, but it actually starts on page 48.

Nice work John!

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:12 pm

Very Cool!

It's nice hanging around famous people and rubbing elbows so that some of what they got rubs off on us! :rr: (Hopefully!)

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:46 pm

I'm going to need to get this one autographed!

Zen Diver v1 · Post by **Zen Diver v1** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:55 pm

John! Woo-hoo!

Or should I say "MR." Rawlings?

-Valerie

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:43 am

Read it last night

- very well written and informative!

I have yet to see my first GPO, but it got me excited. Why do they have to die after they mate though (didn't know that)!? That sucks! Anyway, it was entertaining and Mrs. Sounder and I both enjoyed it.

A+!!! $\:D/$

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:47 am

OK, enough hero worship...

John, the article was great... well written, informative, and nice pics (though of course I would have liked more!

3 hearts?!?!

Who knew?

I'm sure that there were editorial constraints, but I always like more stories... and I know you've got a few! Good job, and keep 'em comin'!

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:19 pm

You'll always be my hero Tom!

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:32 pm

Sounder wrote:You'll always be my hero Tom!

We're talking JOHN here, Sounder!

Man, we need to get you back in the water!

John Rawlings · Post by **John Rawlings** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:51 pm

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words of encouragement. They are always much appreciated.

I have placed the 7 photos that NWDN did NOT select to use with the article in the NWDC Photo Gallery, beginning at this link:

http://www.nwdiveclub.com/gallery/v/Joh ... 1.jpg.html

I hope that you will find the shots enjoyable, and I also hope that those of you that haven't yet been able to interact with a giant Pacific octopus will soon get your chance. They are intelligent, delightful creatures and any dive on which I find one is a special dive.

Best regards to you all!

- John (and NO, Valerie, it is not MR. Rawlings....especially not to you!)

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:33 pm

Great pictures John! Aren't Editor's frustrating?!?! ](*,) I know, I know, Octopus pictures don't pay the bills like adds do, but several of those would have added so much to the article in NW Dive News!

I've seen a few GPO's but have not had a chance to interact with a larger one. I can hardly wait! $\:D/$

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:29 am

I can't wait to at least SEE one! I'm not sure about a 60 pound 30 footer though. That's big. I've seen the video of the octopus in the aquarium that was taking out the sharks - 6 gills beware!!! They do look like a lot of fun!

Zen Diver v1 · Post by **Zen Diver v1** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:22 am

Great photos John, moving and story telling at the same time. I especially loved The Embrace. Very cool.

-Valerie

John Rawlings · Post by **John Rawlings** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:44 am

For those that don't get NWDN, if you'd like to read the article here's a link to this month's issue:

http://www.nwdivenews.com/

If you click on the colorful cover shot of the wolf-eel (an absolutely beautiful photo, by the way!) it'll take you to the text of the issue. To find the Octopus article, click on page 48.

- John

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:54 am

John - in your article you wrote about GPO's being very smart and using planning, strategy, etc and that they sometimes even "play" with divers. Would you elaborate on behaviors you've seen where the octos were playing, using tools, planning, etc? I'm really interested in hearing more!

sparky · Post by **sparky** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:56 pm

John

I just got my isue of NWDN in the mail today grate story as usal
i wish I knew half the cool stuff you know about diving and the critters.

so how soon till your back in the water?

Sparky