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The Incomparable Experience of Swimming with Golden Jellyfish in Palau

The Incomparable Experience of Swimming with Golden Jellyfish in Palau

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on December 7, 2017

There are few creatures in the sea that incite a hypnotic trance the way jellyfish do. At once so beautiful and mysterious, the shape of their bodies and their mannerisms seem almost otherworldly. With about 200 known species of jellyfish, it seems that the only common knowledge of them is that they can sting and in some cases cause great harm to humans, and so an ominous shadow of fear is cast on the delicate creature.

While humans should most certainly be educated on the subject of jellies that may pose a threat in the areas in which they dive and swim, they deserve more of a healthy respect than paralyzing fear.

When stings do occur, it is usually the result of accidental contact or entangling in the jellyfish’s tentacles, which are covered in nematocysts, venom-filled barbs that are used to entrap and kill their prey. The amount of the venom is targeted for much smaller creatures than humans, so generally the sting of the jelly is mild.

However, larger species of jellies, such as the box jellyfish, are a great deal more sophisticated — and potentially deadly. This type of jelly is a skilled predator, and a fast swimmer. While the food staple of the jellyfish is generally plankton, box jellyfish are capable of pursuing vertebrate creatures like fish, and sometimes unwitting humans happen across their path.

Other factors that make this species such a threat is the disparity of their size; some have tentacles that can stretch seven feet, and some actually are as small as your thumbnail! Both can be rather transparent, so often a victim doesn’t even realize they are right in the jelly’s path until the sting has already been delivered. While there are deaths that occur from these encounters, there are more survivors of them with painful tales to tell!

But there is a place where you can ogle these exquisite life forms with minimal risk: the pacific island nation of Palau. Situated in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles east of the Philippines, Palau offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world due to its coral reefs and WWII wreckage to explore. And your chance to swim with the jellyfish is available through several guided tours, which will take you on a lush jungle hike that ends at Jellyfish Lake.

Jellyfish Lake is a marine lake that is mostly isolated from the surrounding lagoons and sea, so the jellies here have somewhat evolved to be effectively harmless to humans. Only snorkeling is allowed in this lake, as the water contains a layer devoid of oxygen and rich in hydrogen sulfide at levels lower than 40-50 feet. Hydrogen sulfide is poisonous and easily absorbed into the skin, even through a wetsuit, so shallow snorkeling has proven to be more safe and still enjoyable.

Although the potency of their venom has diminished greatly over time, some still opt to wear a thin wetsuit and gloves because there will be direct contact with these creatures in Jellyfish Lake. This is a wonderful opportunity to get some photos of the action with your underwater camera, but take care to move gently and slowly.

One kick of the fins or stroke of the arm can cause extensive damage or death, so the name of the game is to relax and observe. The jellyfish migrate across the lake daily and some at night, so a dive light could come in handy if you are lucky enough to catch a moonlight jelly parade.

The jellyfish deserves at least as much esteem as it does trepidation, as it is one of the ocean’s most fascinating life forms. A little research and a good dose of common sense may prove quite valuable when you next encounter the intriguing jellyfish!

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro