Halloween seems to have come early deep below the waves as researchers have discovered a rare ‘ghostly’ octopus.

A team of ocean explorers spotted the rare ‘Dumbo’ Octopus 5,518ft (1,682 metres) beneath the surface, off the coast of Hawaii.

The crew of the Hercules remote operated vehicle can be heard exclaiming as the stunning creature drifts into view.

‘Oh wow!’ said one researcher, Trang chủ Vipwin while another joked that the octopus had ‘flappy, flappy ears’.

The Dumbo Octopus gets its name from a striking resemblance to the 1941 cartoon character, Dumbo the elephant, with its two large ear-like fins protruding above its eyes.

Halloween seems to have come early deep below the waves as researchers have discovered a rare ‘ghostly’ octopus