Spooky Sanctuaries:
Thirteen Dives of Halloween

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It’s October—time to creep into 13 dives of Halloween across your National Marine Sanctuary System. Explore these mysterious creatures and ocean oddities, and get inspired by spooky ocean decor, videos, and other content we’ve gathered just for you.

1.) Odd Ocean Critters to Inspire Your Next Halloween Costume

Meet real sea creatures with features stranger than fiction for your next Halloween costume idea

2.) Creatures of a Whale Fall

Discover the eerie community that thrives when an ocean giant sinks to the seafloor

3.) Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet

Explore the largest wooden ship graveyard in the Western Hemisphere

4.) Black Seadevil Anglerfish

Meet the deep-sea fish with a transparent head

5.) Barreleye Fish

Meet the deep-sea fish with a transparent head

6.) NOAA Pumpkin Carving Templates

Bring the ocean’s spooky side to your doorstep this Halloween

7.) Ocean Mysteries: The Case of the Spinning Salmon

Strange fish behavior sparks a real-life science investigation

8.) Bluntnose Sixgill Shark

This living fossil glides quietly through the ocean’s twilight zone

9.) Exploring American Samoa’s Twilight Reefs

Step into the ocean’s twilight zone, where shadows hide living secrets

10.) Mass Coral Spawning

Under the full moon, these reefs erupt in a ghostly glow

11.) 31 Dives of Halloween

Check out NOAA Exploration’s favorite spooktacular finds from the deep ocean

12.) Ghostly Jellies of the Sea

Watch these otherworldly drifters “haunt” the ocean

13.) Spooky Sea Creatures to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Learn about some of the ocean’s spookiest, yet ecologically important, species.

Costume Inspiration: Steal Their Look!

“Steal their look: Dumbo Octopus.” A pale dumbo octopus, alongside iridescent glitter, a brown floppy ear headband, a light pink bald cap, a pair of long white satin gloves, a shimmering silver-pink mermaid gown, a translucent curly ribbon, and a tube of metallic lipstick.
“Steal their look: Manta Ray & Remora.” A black-and-white manta ray swimming with two remoras attached, alongside a silver flat cap, a silver makeup compact, a strip of Velcro, silver lace-up high-heeled sandals, a shimmering silver sequined suit, a beaded heart bracelet, a white detachable collar, black leather ankle boots, a black leather cropped jacket, and black leather pants.
“Steal their look: Manatee.” Two manatees swimming, alongside a light grey hoodie and sweatpants tracksuit set, an olive green fringed shawl, grey toe sneakers, small round sunglasses, a strand of sea grass, and a "Slow No Wake Zone" sign.
“Steal their look: Northern Pike.” A long, speckled Northern Pike, alongside olive green crew socks, brown leather Chelsea boots, a set of sharp costume fangs, an olive green baseball cap, a brown and black thin-striped long-sleeved top, and tan polka-dot overalls.
“Steal their look: Regal Sea Goddess Nudibranch.” A dark blue and yellow striped nudibranch, alongside a navy blue and gold striped t-shirt, navy blue track pants with yellow side stripes, yellow sneakers, blue and yellow beaded fringe earrings, a yellow tassel, and a navy blue and yellow baseball cap.
“Steal their look: Vampire Squid.” A dark red vampire squid, alongside a dark red ribbed beanie, black goggles with blue lenses, a dark red high-neck cape, a dark red frayed fabric roll, a pair of dark red tassel loafers, and dark red sweatpants.
“Steal their look: Sea Otter.” A sea otter floating on its back, alongside a brown faux-fur jacket, a pair of scary costume fangs, a brown faux fur bucket hat, brown faux fur mittens, brown corduroy flare pants with faux fur side trim, a red plush crab, a smooth rock, and a pair of brown split-toe ballet flats.
Steal their look: Shrimp Riding a Jellyfish. The image shows a large, translucent jellyfish with a small shrimp on top of its bell. Alongside a roll of coarse beige twine, a backless champagne-colored knit halter dress, a stuffed pink shrimp toy, brown lace-up gladiator sandals, and a clear plastic umbrella.
Steal their look: Tufted Puffin. The image shows a black bird with a white face, bright orange bill, and long yellow plumes off its head, along with a white and orange baseball cap, a long black feather boa, black coveralls, a yellow feather, orange lace-up boots, and a red eyeliner pencil.
Steal their look: Tufted Puffin. The image shows a black bird with a white face, bright orange bill, and long yellow plumes off its head, along with a white and orange baseball cap, a long black feather boa, black coveralls, a yellow feather, orange lace-up boots, and a red eyeliner pencil.
Steal their look: Green Moray Eel. The image features a bright yellow-green moray eel poking out from a rocky crevice, alongside a shimmering, long-sleeved, short lime-green dress, round red-lensed sunglasses, a set of scary costume fangs, and a pair of high-heeled, pointed-toe, textured lime-green boots.
Steal their look: Masked Booby. The image features a white seabird with dark brown and black wing feathers, a yellow bill, and a black tint around its face. Alongside brown pants, a black and yellow masquerade mask, a fuzzy white turtleneck sweater, a white swim cap, a brown scarf, yellow lipstick, and a pair of brown, five-toed shoes.
A Volunteer. The image shows a pair of black binoculars, a grey t-shirt with a 'Get into Your Sanctuary' graphic, a yellow 'Field Notes' notebook with a blue pen, dark blue hiking pants, and a pair of black rubber boots.
Steal its look: Old Presque Isle Lighthouse. The image shows a tall, weathered, light-colored stone lighthouse next to an outfit inspired by it: a black top hat, a long white quilted winter coat with black trim, a headlamp, and a large red foghorn.
“Steal their look: Brown Pelican.” A Brown Pelican with its wings spread, surrounded by an off-white hooded scarf, an orange pouch purse, a brown feather boa, orange lipstick, an eyeshadow palette, brown corduroy pants, a patterned trench coat, and brown platform shoes.