STEVE AND MEGUMI BIDDLE

Illustrations by Megumi Biddle

RED FOX
A Rrd I'ox Book Publo hl by IUndom Hou Chlld",n' Books 20 V.uxh.1I Brodge Ro.d. London S\X' I\ 2 A
A dlVl Ion of IUndom Hou UK L.d London Mdbourn 'j'dn<)' Au kbnd Joh.nn burg .nd .genu .hroughou he world
Tex. \.<v .nd Mcguml B,ddl 1m lIIus .... ,on () Mcguml BIddie 1')')9 lold d 'sn () .n .nd Mcgum; B,ddl 1999
, ~ ~ ') 10 6 2 All ""h. r ,,I P"n.I .nd bound In Hon!: Kon!:
RANDOM H I:. K umooed Reg. No. ~ 009 LB. 009926'1
Diving into Underwater Origami
Discover the mysterious world of Neptune's marine
kingdom and take a spectacular journey to the chilly
ocean depths with paper-craft experts, Steve and
Megumi Biddle. Underwater Origami shows how,
with a little paper-folding know-how, you can make a
spectacular collection of sharks, dolphins, whales and
turtles from just a few simple squares of paper!
Origami Tools and Tips
Make sure your paper is square.
Fold on a flat surface.
Make your folds neat and accurate by creasing them into
place with your thumbnail.
Try making the models in the order in which they appear -
often the folds and folding procedures are based on previous
ones, so you'll find it easier.
You will need: a tube of stick glue, a pencil, a ruler, felt-tip
pens and scissors. (Always take great care when handling
scissors and keep all tools in a safe place, out of the reach of
small children.)
..., This means turn over the page to continue the model.
This means that the model is complete.
Traditional origami paper is coloured on one side and white on the
other. In the illustrations the shading represents the coloured side.
U"derwater Origami as the first step towards creating your
l.' ' n "d creatures, then why not try experimenting with different
rypL of paper (wrapping paper, for example) or decorate your
models with felt-tip pens. And remember, if you are finding a
particular fold tricky, don't give up! Just put the model to one side
and come back to it another day.
Have fun!
seful Addresses ,
Steve and Megumi Biddle, Random House Children's Book , 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London WIV 2SA (Please send an SAE.)
The British Origami Society, 35 Corfe Crescent, Hazelgrove, Stockport, Cheshire SK7 5PR
Origami USA, 15 West 77th Street, ew York, NYI0024-5192
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Kayleigh Sparks for her help and support with
Origa",i.
Contents
Sea anemone 3
Seaweed 4
Coral
5
Conch shell 6
Sea bream
7
Starfish 8
Shell with pearl 10
Tropical fish II
Crab 13
Mackerel 14
Octopus 16
Humpback whale 17
Shrimp 19
Dolphin 20
Sea horse 22
Shark 24
Turtle 26
Diver 28
;
~ e
anem6)ne
This jtlly-likr sra emltllrr looks bralltiful.
bllt watch Ollt for its brightly eololtrrd
tmtaeks - thry can givr YOII a nasty sting!
You will need:
1 quare of paper
ci or
lue
1
Fold and unfold the quare in half
from bonom to top. with th
white ide on top.
2
U( along the
middle fold-line,
o
3
Place one re tangle ideway, with
the white ide on top. Fold it in
half from bonom to top.
h[II[IIIIIIII[ [11[ 1
A
4
ut lits in the pap r, from the
bonom (folded) edg , all the
way along.
o
5
Turn the paper around.
Roll the paper
o making two rectangle. 100 ely into a tube.
6
Hold the rube in place with the
help of a linle glue.
7
To compl te the ea anemone,
open out the lit lightly. Why
not u the remaining rectangle to
make another ea an mon ?
Try folding pap" of difJ"tnt si:us and
colours to crtatt a varitty ofstawuds-
a stunning addition to yoltr Imdtrwattr
world.
You will need:
1 quare of paper
ci or
1
Begin by repeating steps 1 and 2
of the EA ANEMONE on
page 3. Place one idcways,
with the while side on top. Fold and
unfold it in half from boaom to top.
4
5
Fold the ide in to meet
the middle fold-line.
Fold the top comers down
to meet the middle edges.
6
From the top point. fold the
loping edg in to meet th
middl edge.
7
Fold in half from right to left.
so making a strip.
8
Fold the: trip down,
a hown ...
9 and up as hown.
ton(-lik( co 'ill cr(atu"s grow tog(th(r
to fonn a r(if that bursts with colour.
US( sh((ts of diffirmt colollr(d pap(r to
mak( a sp(ctaclliar scm(.
You wiu need:
A fe:w quare: of paper
ci or
lue:
1
Begin by repealing lcps 1 and 2 of
the EA ANEMO E on page 3,
with one U81C. Place one rectangle
sideways. th the while on top.
Fold and unfold it in half from
bottom to top.
2
3
Fold the: top and bonom e:dg
in to me:e:t the: middl fold-lin.
Fold in half from bottom
to top.
4 Fold in half from left to right.
5
Fold the top layer of paper down
as shown, so . ..
6 completing one piece of coral.
7
Repeat tep 1 to 6 with the
remaining rectangle and quares.
Glue the piece together as hown, to
make a display of coral.
conch is found on sandy
of tropical waters. Its twisted
is often brightly coloured.
You will need:
1 quare of paper
1
Turn the quare around to look like
a diamond, with the white side on
top. Fold and unfold it in half from
bottom to top.
2
From the right-hand point, fold
the top loping side in to meet the
middle fold-line.
3
From the left-hand point, fold
the top sloping side in to meet
the middle fold-line.
4
From the right-hand point, fold
the bottom loping side up to lie
along the top sloping side.
5 Fold the top point behind.
;
6
Create the shell's twists by
pleating the paper backward
and forwards, as shown.
7
lightly open the paper out,
and hape the shell into place.
8 Here is the completed conch hell.
Sea
~ r e m
Origami folds look most attractiv( whm
display(d tognh(r. 0 why not mak( a
larg( shoal of glituring s(a bream?
You will need:
I square of paper
Sci sors
1
Turn the quare around to look
like a diamond, with the white
side on top. Fold and unfold the
opposite corner together.
2
Fold the top and bottom corner
in to the middle.
3
From the right-hand corner, cut
along the fold-line a far as the
middle, 0 making the ea bream's tail
fin .
4
Fold the top fin over to meet
the middle fold-line.
5
Tuck the top fin behind the
bottom one.
6
Repeat step 4 with the
bottom fin.
7
Turn the paper over. so
completing the sea bream.
t a r f t ~ h
The spiny starfish has five fat arms radiating
from its body. The very effictive fold used to
create the star shape is based on a paper-cutting
technique calkd kirigami.
You will need:
1 quare of paper
cissors
1
Turn the square around to look like
a diamond. with the white side on
top. Fold it in half from bottom to top.
so making a diaper fold.
2
Fold and unfold in half from side
to side.
3
Fold and unfold in half from top
to bottom.
4
Fold and unfold the top point
as hown.
5
From the middle of the bottom
edge. fold the bottom right-hand
point over towards the left. as shown.
(
6
Fold the point back. 50 that
itlies ...
7 along the right-hand loping id .
8
Turn the paper over.
Repeat tep 5 to 7.
9
ut along thc indicatcd line.
Oi card thc upper cction of
paper. p n out the ow r ction
into a ...
1 0
tar. Carefully pr each id
of th tar as hown, 0
making it take on a three-dimen ional
form.
11 Here i the completed tarfish.
9
Try looking insitk an oysur and Yolt might find it
co1ltllins a Iialltabk sliwry-whiu
You will need:
1 quare of paper
ci or
mall piece of foil
-

1
Begin by repeating tep 1 of the
EAWEED on page 4. Fold and
unfold the top and bottom edg as
hown.
o
4
Turn the paper around. Fold in
half from right to I f(.
6
Fold the back layer of paper
behind, a hown.
7
Fold th front layer of paper over
toward the I ft, as hown. R peat
with the back layer.
Fold the corners in to meet the
fold-line next to them.
5
Fold the top layer
of paper over, a
hown.
3 Fold in half from right to left.
10
8 Open out the paper.
9
Fold the top corner in to meet
the middle fold-line. and ...
1 0
back out along the line of the
exi ting fold-line underneath.
11
Fold the top point down as far
as hown.
12
lightly open the paper out
along it bottom edge. and
hape the shell into place.
. ~
: : : : : ; ~ . . . . . .
7!
13
Turn the paper over. 0
completing the hell.
14
Crush the piece off oil into a
ball. to make a pearl. Plac it
in ide the hell.
A shoal of tropical fish is a must for Yoltr
ulltUrwatn- world - crtau diffirmt sptcirs
by makillg slight variatiollS ill tht folds.
You wiu need:
1 quar of paper
Felt-tip pen
1
Fold the quare in half from top
to bottom. with the white ide
on tOp .
I
~
I
2 Fold in half from right to left.
3
/
/
/
/
,.-::: _--r-_
Lift the top flap up along the
middl fold-line. tart ...
11
4 to open out the paper and ...
5 press it down neatly ...
6 into a triangle.
7
Turn the paper over. Repeat
tep 2 to 6, so making a
waterbomb base.
12
8
From the top point, fold the
right-hand flap of paper over to a
point one-third of the way across the
waterbomb base. Repeat with the left-
hand flap of paper, so . . .
9 that it lies on top.
1 0
Turn the paper over. To
complete the tropical fish,
draw on an eye with the felt-tip pen.
Crah
Whm th( tid( gO(S out on rocky show it
kav(s b(hind small pools ofua IIJaur.
Look c/OS(/y in on( of th(u rock pools and
you might find this fiarsom(-Iooking crab.
You will need:
2 quare of paper
lue
1
Body: Begin by repeating tep 1 and
2 of the C N H H LL on page 6.
with one quare. From the right-hand
point. fold the bottom loping ide in to
meet the middle fold-line. 0 ...
2
making a kite ba e. From the left-
hand point. fold the loping ide
in to meet the middle fold-line. 0 ...
3 making a diamond bas .
4
Turn the diamond bas over. Fold
the left-hand point over to a point
one-third of the way acro as hown.
Repeat with the right-hand point. 0
5
6
pre
Fold the top behind to the
bottom.
upward
it ...
7
flat into th po ition. as hown.
Repeat with the remaining
point. 0 ...
8
completing the crab' body.

9
Legs: Repeat tep 1 to 3 with the
remaining quare to make a
diamond base. Fold it in half from top
to bottom.
10
Fold and unfold the right-hand
point, as shown.
11
Along the existing fold-lines,
inside reverse fold the point.
This is what you do:
12
Place your thumb into the
point's groove and, with your
forefinger on top, pull .. .
13
the point down inside itself.
Pre the paper flat.
14
Repeat teps 10 to 13 with the
left-hand point, so completing
the crab's legs.
15
Assembly: Tuck the legs inside
the body. Glue them together.
16 Here is the completed crab.
..
Maekete
BOllY fish lik( maek(r(l prop(l thmlS(/v(s through
th( waUr with their pow(rfid tail. US( striped
paper to mak( a shoal - th( pattern er(am
a vny fishy effiet.
You will need:
1 quare of paper
1
Begin by repeating step 1 of the
CRAB on page 13. Fold the right-
hand point behind to the left-hand point.
2
From the left-hand point, fold
and unfold the sloping ides as
shown.
3
Along the existing fold-line , pull
the top flap of paper . . .
4 over to the right, 0 ...
5
making its sloping side come to lie
along the middle fold-line. Repeat
steps 3 to 5 with the borrom flap of
paper, 0 . ..
6
making a fi h base. Fold it
in half from borrom to top.
7
Treating the left-hand points as if
they were one, inside rever e fold
them upwards.
8
9
Inside reverse fold the inner left-
hand point downwards, so . . .
maki ng the fish's tail.
1 0
Fold the right-hand point over
as shown, so making a front
fin. Repeat behind.
11
behind.
12
Fold the right-hand layer of
paper over on a slant. Repeat
Here i the completed
mackerel.
15
octopuus !ilu to stay cmu to
rocky largtst kind is pacific
giam. which has an of 23 kg
and an amI span of 2.5 m.
You will need:
3 quare of paper
1
Head: From one quare, cut
out a quare for the head to the
lze hown.
2
Repeat tep 1 of the CRAB on
page 13. Fold and unfold the
right-hand point, as hown.
3
16
Fold the tip of the right-hand
point over.
4
Turn the paper around. Fold the
top point down to meet the
horizontal edge .
5
Fold the tip of the right-hand
point over as hown. Repeat on
the left-hand ide.
6
Turn the paper over. Fold the
bottom edge up along the fold-
line made in tep 2. Then ...
7
fold it back down, 0 making a
pleat in the paper.
8
Push the ide of the pleat in
toward the middle fold-line, so .. .
9
making the octopu 's eye . Fold
and unfold the pleat's bottom
edge, as hown.
1 0
Along the fold-line made in
9, pu h the octopu 's
mouth into place. Thi complete the
head.
11
Tentacles: Repeat steps 1 to 7
of the TROPICAL FI H on
page 11, with one square. Fold the
waterbomb ba e in half from Jo
right to left.
o
12
Cut along the indicated line.
Discard the lower ection of
paper.
13
pread out the layers of the
upper section, as shown. This
completes one set of tentacles.
14
Repeat step 11 to 13 with the
remaining square. Overlap the
two ets of tentacle and glue them
together.
15
Assembly: Glue the head onto
the tentacle . Fold the tentacles
into hape as shown, so completing the
octopus.
PlAyful giams, humpback whaks hurl
themstlves out of the water in a spectacular
display ofsommaults and turns.
You will need:
1 square of paper
Scissors
1
Begin by repeating steps 1 and 2 of
the CONCH SHELL on page 6.
Fold the tOP section of paper down,
along the middle fold-line.
2
From the right-hand point, fold
the bottom loping side behind
towards the top edge.
3
Fold the tOP left-hand point
down, as shown.
17
Fold the tip of the point over, so
making a triangle.
5 Open out the triangle and ...
p ir down ncady into a
diamond.
8
Fold the top and bottom left-hand
points behind as shown, so
shaping the whale's body.
9 Fold the right-hand point behind . ..
1 0 and back up u shown.
11
From the point's tip, cut along
the middle fold-line as far as
shown, so making the whale's tail fins.
12
Fold the top fin over towards
the right and the bottom fin
behind towards the left.
13
Shape the fins by folding their
tips over.
TM boMIm boJin of shrimps lilT
pmtmwi", II htmJ Oll#r sMH. TIIIO
JNtirs of fMns adktJ 1I"1m",,, atnuJ
fomt IIIJtJw thnr tIUIUth.
You will aeecI:
1 q ~ of paper
2
Cut along the indicated line. so
making the shrimp's antennae.
Carefully unfold the paper from
bottom to top.
3
From the right-hand point. fold
the sloping sides in to meet the
middle fold-line.
4
Shape the shrimp' body with a
. of pIeaa. shown.
6
Carefully open the right-hand
point out, so making the
hrimp's tail.
7
From the tail, fold the body'
pleated ides in towards the
middle fold-line.
8
From the antennae, fold the
sloping sides in towards the
middle fold-line.
9 Fold in half from top to bottom.
11
1
Begin by repeating steps I to 5 of
the MACKEREL on page 14.
Fold the bottom left-hand point to the
2
Fold and unfold the triangular
flaps, as shown.
3
Insert a finger between the top
triangular flap's layers of paper.
Open them out and ...
4
press down neatly into a pleat
as shown, 0 making a flipper.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the bottom
triangular flap, so ...
5 that the flipper overlap.
6
7

I
Turn the paper over. Pleat the
right-hand point, as shown.
Fold the tip of the right-hand
point over.
8
Fold in half from bottom to top,
letting the overlapped fins flick
apart.
9
Fold the top and right-hand
points inside the model.
Repeat behind.
1 0
Inside rever e fold the
left-hand point up.
11
From the point's tip, cut along
the middle fold-line as far as
shown, so making the dolphin's tail fin .
12 Fold one fin down.
13 Here is the completed dolphin.
}f
Not a hors( at all. but a V") small foh,
th( ua hors( swims slowly and stiffly.
It stops to mt on s(aw((d, curling its
tail around th( sUms.
You will need:
1 square of paper
1
Begin by repeating steps 1 to 3
of the CRAB on page 13. Unfold
the top left-hand layer of paper.
2
Along the existing fold-lines,
inside reverse fold the top left-
hand layer of paper.
3
22
Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the
bottom left-hand layer of paper.
4
From the right-hand point, fold
the sloping sides in to meet the
middle fold-line.
o
5
Turn the paper around. Pull the
middle flaps out to either side,
so making their inside layers rise up.
Flatten ~ m down neatly.
6
Pleat the bottom point as shown,
so making the sea horse's tail.
7 Fold in halffrom left to right.
8
Pull the tail's top pleat out into
the position as shown by the
dotted li nes.
9
Repeat step 8 with the tail's
bottom pleat.
10
Fold the tip of the tail
over and over, so ...
11 it curls around.
12
Inside rever e fold the top
point to the right and .. .
13 back to the left.
14 Open the poin
15
Fol.d the tip of the
pOint over.
t . 16 Pleat the point as shown.
17
18

Fold the point in half
from bottom to tOp.
Here is the completed
sea horse .

d
I e
, I
Among the most deadly predators of the
underwater world. sharks have exctllmt
htaring and a powerful sense of smell.
You will need:
2 squares of paper
Glue
1
Upper body: Begin by repeating
steps 1 to 5 of the MACKEREL
on page 14, with one square. Fold the
bottom left-hand point to the right.
2
3
24
Fold the top triangular flap over
to meet the middle.
Fold the bottom triangular flap
down to meet the bottom point.
4
5
Fold the tip of the right-hand
point over.
Fold in half from bottom to top,
so .. .
6 completing the upper body.
7
8
Lower body: Begin by repeating
step 1 ""ith the remaining square.
Fold the triangular flaps over to
meet the middle, so ...
9 that they overlap as shown.
10
middle.
Turn the paper over. Fold the
right-hand point in to the
11
Fold the bottom and top
right-hand points over a
shown. They will overlap a little.
12
Fold in half from bottom to
top, letting the overlapped
triangular flap flick apart, 0 ...
13 completing the lower body.
14
Assembly: In ert the upper
body in ide the lower body
as shown. Glue them together.
15
Starting short of the bottom
left-hand point, fold (he
sloping side over as shown. Repea(
behind.
Treating the left-hand points
16 as if they were one, inside
reverse fold (hem upwards.
17
Open the left-hand point
out lightly.
18
Inside reverse fold the inner
left-hand point downwards,
0 ...
19 making the shark's tail.
20 Herei
the completed shark.
-
. J'-) ~
Crraturrs of graer and brauty. ua
turtlrs wrrr swimming in thr oerallS
whm dinosaurs trod thr rarth.
You will need:
I quare of pap r
1
Begin by repeating tep I to 7 of
the T' PleAL FI H on page 11.
Fold the top flap of paper over from
right to left .
2
Fold the bottom point of the
remaining flap up to meet the
top point, so making a back flipper.
3 Fold the flipper out, as shown.
4
Fold the top flap of paper over
from left to right.
5
Fold and unfold (he flap, as
shown.
6
From the top point, fold and
unfold (he sloping side of the
flap. as shown.
7
8
Pinch together the sides of the
flap and ...
fold (he triangular point that
appears ...
9 upwards. Press it flat.
1 0
Fold the point out as shown,
so making a front flipper.
11
Fold the side point in towards
the middle.
12
Fold the front flipper, as
shown.
13
Fold the top flap of paper over
from left to right.
14 Repeat steps 2 to 12.
15
This should be the result. Pleat
the bottom point, so making
the turtle's head.
6
Pleat me top point as
shown. 10 making me
bIcIIlJIDC duee-dimcnsioaa.
17
Fold the top point behind,
inside the model, so holding
the pleat made in tep 16 in place.
18
Turn the paper over, so
completing the turtle.
Gnu you 'Vt math all tht CTtatum for your
tmdawaur kingdom, you art rtady to makt
a divtr - tht ultimau origami chal/mgt. It
is madt up of similar units, so bt cariful not
to mix up your papa and tht sups.
You will need:
6 squares of paper
cis or
Glue
~
1
Head: From one square, cut out
a quare for the head to the size
hown.
2
Fold and unfold the quare in
half from bottom to top and
from ide to side, with the white side
on tOp.
3
Fold the Op edge down 0 meet
the middle fold-line. Repeat with
the bottom edge, folding it behind.
4
5
Fold the sides behind to meet
the middle fold-line.
Fold the tip of each comer
behind. so complains the bad.
6
Arms and hands: Begin by
repeating steps 1 to 3 of the
CRAB on page 13. with another
square. Fold the diamond base in
half from top to bottom.
~ .
"
7
Fold a little of the right-band
point OU. Open the point
aod .
8
~ ..
~ .
pre it down flat. Fold the point
up as shown. 0 ...
9
making a hand. Repeat steps 7
and 8 with the left-hand point.
so completing the arms and hands.
1 0
Bodys Begin by repeating steps
1 to 3 of the CRAB on PIF
13
11
Insert one base inside the other
as shown. Glue them together,
o completing the body.
12
Figure assembly: Glue the
body on top of the hands.
13
Glue the head onto the top
point of the body as hown,
so completing the figure.
14
Air tank: Begin by repeating
step 1 of the CRAB on page 13,
with another square. Fold the right-hand
point over to meet the vertical edges.
15
Fold the left-hand point over
along the line of the vertical
edges.
16
Fold in half from top
to bottom.
17
Fold the tip of each bottom
point behind, inside the
model, so completing the air tank.
18
Fold the diver's left arm down.
Glue the air tank Onto the
diver's back as shown.
19
Mask and air tube: From the
remaining square, cut out a rectangle
for the mask and air tube to the size shown.
Do not discard the lower rectangle as it will
be required for the flippers.
-
20
Fold and unfold the rectangle
in half from side to side, with
the coloured side on top.
21
I
~
Fold and unfold the right-hand
side, as shown.
I I
I .
~
I
22
U ing the fold-line made in
step 21 as a guide, pleat the
right-hand eetion of paper.
23
Fold the right-hand side
behind to meet the folded
edge, so making the mask.
24
Turn the paper over. Inside
reverse fold the top corners
of the pleat, as shown.
25
Fold the left-hand side over
towards the right.
26
Fold the right-hand side over
and over as shown, so making
the air tube.
27
o ~ d the tips of the mask's side
POint over.
28
Turn the mask and air tube
over. Glue the mask onto the
diver's face, as shown. ~
31
29
Fold the air tube over
towards the right.
O
Fold the end of the tube
backwards and insert it into
31
Flippen: Fold and unfold the
remaining rectangle in hal f
2
Fold the top corners down
to meet the middle fold-line.
3 3
Cut the paper as hown, 0
making two squares. Discard
the lower section of paper.
34
Repeat step 1 of the CRAB on
page 13, with both squares. Fold
the kite bases' top and bottom points, as
shown.
3 5
Fold the bases in half from
right to left, so completing
the flippers.
36 Fold the diver's left leg behind.
3 7
Tuck the legs inside the
flippers. Glue them together,
o completing the diver.