Photography

ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

It's Octopus Week at the Seattle Aquarium, and diver Chris Van Damme enters the octopus tank to weigh Rain, the resident male. Joel Hollander, above, stood by to assist as Van Damme used a microphone in his mask to tell visitors what was about to happen. Rain weighed 71 pounds. He and the resident female, Squirt, mated on Thursday. Soon, both will be released into Puget Sound to complete their life cycle.

ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

When Squirt, the resident female giant Pacific octopus, is released into Puget Sound, she'll lay thousands of eggs, and before she dies she will tend them until they hatch. Octopus Week events continue through Feb. 24. To find out more: seattleaquarium.org