The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

Chapter 5 describes Montgomery’s efforts learning to scuba dive and her diving trip to the Caribbean Sea to observe octopuses in the ocean. Her plans to take lessons with Anna and Christa don’t materialize, as both young women are unable to join her. She hopes to finish a weekend course late that summer, but must stop midway through because of severe ear pain accompanied by vertigo and nausea.

The following week, she returns to the aquarium to find everything changed. Bill and Scott are away, Anna has returned to school, and the moving of animals to new tanks has begun in order to prepare for the renovation. The 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank that is central to the museum is largely closed off as its animals are transferred. This goes smoother for some than for others. Surprisingly, the 500-pound sea turtle named Myrtle is moved with relatively ease, but some of the faster fish are hard to catch with the nets. To do so, some had to be slightly anesthetized to slow them down, and one had died after failing to recover from it. This makes the staff anxious, as they don’t want to stress or otherwise harm the animals.

Montgomery tries again with scuba lessons, this time hiring a private instructor in late September and early October.