In his second piece, Octopus Goes Coconuts, Edi captures the charismatic coconut octopus using discarded coconut shells.  This octopus species, Amphioctopus marginatus, was recently discussed in a scientific paper about the extremely rare behavior of tool use by an invertebrate. Edi’s footage raises the question: Is the octopus using the discarded coconut shells for locomotion in addition to protection? 

After fours years’ apprenticeship as a mechanic, Edi Frommenwiler packed a backpack and left his native Switzerland to travel the world. He started as a long distance truck driver between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. He left that job to tour the world for two years then worked for eight years as an adventure trekking guide. He made his first dive in Thailand in 1984, which led, ultimately to the launch of the Pindito project in 1990. Operating since 1992, the Pindito liveaboard dive boat pioneered diving in the eastern area of Indonesia, known today as “Raja Ampat”.  

Edi has been shooting video since 1994, starting with Hi-8, progressing through DV, HDV and now captures with a Red camera. His extensive archive, containing more than 15,000 clips, is available through www.reefclips.com.