Guide To Jellyfish...

One of the many pleasures of sea kayaking for me are the sightings & interactions with the wonderful wildlife that resides within & around the sea. Its easy when mentioning wildlife to think of the big ticks on peoples wish list, the Dolphins, Seals & Puffins to name a few but for me I'm a confirmed Jellyfish lover!

Below I've posted some images of the Jelly's you can expect to see during the summer along the Pembrokeshire coastline & if you join me on a trip you can guarantee I'll have my eye's peeled trying to spot some for you too see for yourself ;)

Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma Octopus)

The Barrel Jellyfish is huge & can grow to the size of a dustbin! In fact I do call them floating dustbins as they can reach one metre in diameter. From experience I have found that Barrels prefer the South Pembrokeshire coast, I hardly spotted any on the North coast last year?

They have a mild sting & I love to pat their heads like a puppy, they really are quite loveable :)

Moon Jellfish (Aurelia Aurita)

The lovely Moon Jelly's, these are quite harmless & very beautiful to look at. If you do touch one then please, please tell your children not to throw them! They are fellow Earthlings & deserve the same love & respect as we give each other.

They can reach upto 40cm are are easy to identify from the four circles (gonads) within their translucent bell.

Moon Jellfish (Aurelia Aurita)

Lions Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea Capillata)

These are pretty big Jelly's, can reach upto 4 metres in diameter & not one to touch as they have a pretty painful sting as their long thin tentacles do spread out in the water!

Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora Hysoscella)

The beautiful Compass Jelly's get their name from the markings on their bell. They can average about 30cm & have long thin tentacles as well as four long thick arms too. Its a lovely Jelly to look at but will sting so best to just observe!

Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora Hysoscella)

Blue Jellyfish (Cyanea Lamarckii)

Trickier to ID this one as the Blue Jellys are not always blue early in the season! They can grow upto 30cm & have a mild sting.

You may spot some others out there but I have stuck to the ones that I have seen & continue to see along the Pembrokeshire coast.

Happy spotting ;)