Seal and octopus in titanic ocean clash

An aquatic wrestling match between a seal and a giant octopus in a Canadian harbour has amazed a crowd of onlookers.

The fighting pair came within a metre of the shore last Monday at Ogden Point in British Columbia, with several people snapping photos and filming the clash.

Photographer Bob Ianson told CTV News he was taking a walk with his family when he spotted the seal with the octopus’ tentacles wrapped around it.

"It was unbelievable," Mr Ianson said.

"That seal is probably, I don't know, four-and-a-half feet long? So that octopus is a pretty big octopus."

"It was almost like the seal was bringing the octopus up the surface to show off what he had."

Vancouver Aquarium’s research biologist Chad Nordstrom said seals in the harbour quite often dined out on octopus, but it was rare for such a battle to be captured on camera.

The aquarium had just one photograph of a fight between the two animals, which was snapped by a diver years ago, Mr Nordstrom said.