Reef Tattoos

[CannibalisticTurtle]

Good afternoon all! Am looking to get my first tattoo and was wondering how many of you have reef inspired or ocean life tattoos. Just looking to get a few ideas on what to get and where.
Right now I’m leaning towards either a blue ring octopus on my shoulder or a peacock mantis on my bicep.
I’m a moderately hairy guy so I’m not 100% sold on either idea/ placement because I’m not sure how they would look with body hair over them.

 

[King Turkey]

Tattoos are permanent and you should 100% know what you want. I would suggest figuring out what you want wait 6 months and if you still just need it get it. I'm talking you know exactly were you want it what it is and plan it out with a shop after looking at there art portfolio. My tattoo shop even drew my tattoo on with pen and just didn't wash my right arm for a week make sure it all looked good and liked all the placement(was full arm).

 

[PicassoClown04]

You could go get a henna tattoo done to test placement and picture ideas https://inkbox.com/ makes temporary tattoos (applied with water) that are supposed to last like a week so if you want to test placements they’re a good resource. There’s a thread somewhere on here about reef tats, lots of really neat looking full sleeves!

 

[jesspal]

I’ve yet to see a good reef or underwater tattoo.

 

[Thetankdoctor]

I don't have a full reef but I have a traditional shark on my forearm and an octopus on my left shoulder and have a sleeve of an octopus holding a martini glass with a pin up in it. I did not want a whole reef as I agree, I really have not seen one I like. I have a lot of tattoos and enjoy the culture. If you are in Ohio I have a guy who is an OG tattooist and will hook you up. Not trying to make a commerical here but red rabbit tattoo studio in portage lakes ohio. Seth and the gang are amazing...

 

[jesspal]

I don't have a full reef but I have a traditional shark on my forearm and an octopus on my left shoulder and have a sleeve of an octopus holding a martini glass with a pin up in it. I did not want a whole reef as I agree, I really have not seen one I like. I have a lot of tattoos and enjoy the culture. If you are in Ohio I have a guy who is an OG tattooist and will hook you up. Not trying to make a commerical here but red rabbit tattoo studio in portage lakes ohio. Seth and the gang are amazing...

Octopus tattoos are very cool. I’ve seen a lot of awesome octopus tattoos.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I would suggest no tattoos :p

 

[Dolelo96]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-inspired-tattoos.253257/

 

[ReefRondo]

I regret mine massively. I would strongly recommend you are 100% sure before you do it. Don’t mean to be a party pooper.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Nothing says manly like a reef tattoo lol

 

[Silent]

Fish tatoos are quite common. Everyone and their brother has a Japanese koi tatoo, may as well add one of those in lol.

 

[Thetankdoctor]

I regret none of my tattoos. They kind of represent different stages in my life and to be honest I love talking about the stories when someone asks about them. Not all the stories are good, but the journey has been amazing. My octopus is a blue ring and wraps my arms and is on the back of my elbow (which sucks). And yes with ANY tattoo make sure of what you want. They don't go away....

 

[LegendaryCG]

I've never once desired a tatoo. I do know a couple people that have decided to have something removed and all they say is how extremely painful it is.

 

[CannibalisticTurtle]

I regret none of my tattoos. They kind of represent different stages in my life and to be honest I love talking about the stories when someone asks about them. Not all the stories are good, but the journey has been amazing. My octopus is a blue ring and wraps my arms and is on the back of my elbow (which sucks). And yes with ANY tattoo make sure of what you want. They don't go away....

Do you pictures of the octopus one you wouldn’t mind sharing?

 

[Thetankdoctor]

Sure let me try to take a decent one

 

[CubsFan]

 

[Chrysemys]

I have found the most important part of getting a tattoo you will appreciate is finding the right artist. A lot of tattoo artists don’t want your idea fully planned out. They want to create you something that not only meets your request, but gives them some room to be the artist. It sounds like you have some basic idea what you want. Take some reference material to some tattoo artists and let them create sketches for you. One of them with resinate and that is the one you should get. Questions about placement and how it will look will be perfect for them.
I didn’t look up where you are located, but here is a shop I am familiar with that has done some ocean/reef related work. Check it out.... http://www.gypsytatco.com/todd-shipley-gallery/ybc7hfwn8axdbhfjsi4dzrdh24qsii

I hope you share some photos when you get it done.

 

[DelawareDave]

Still a work in progress, will be a full sleeve when it's done