What to do if an octopus grabs you?
Chloe Ramirez
Updated on March 12, 2026
Pull away quickly.
In many cases, a human can escape from the grasp of a small-to-medium sized octopus by just swimming away. Propel yourself forward to create a pulling pressure on the octopus's arms. If you cannot get away, or if you feel yourself being pulled back, continue to the next step.