The experienced divers were some 80ft below sea level at Bluefish Cove at Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel, Calif., when the attack occurred, according to several news reports.

"It's very rare to see that type of octopus in the 80 feet of water we were in," Malvestuto said,KSBW.com reported.

 

The mollusk turned out to be a bit camera-shy and started tugging at Murray's camera. The divers stayed calm throughout the fight. Murray eventually managed to get back his camera by clicking on the camera's lights, according to KSWB.

 

"I was a little worried that the octopus wasn't actually going to come off his camera," Malvestuto, who recorded the incident, told CBS8.com   "I just wanted to make sure I had it on video. Otherwise the people on land would never believe us."