Step in, the water is… terrifying: jellyfish as far as the eye can see plague the kayaking hotspot
- Sea kayaking tour guide Chris Denehy spotted the creatures on a paddle this week
Incredible images show a mass of jellyfish – in Scottish waters.
Sea kayaking tour guide Chris Denehy spotted the creatures on a paddle this week.
He explains: “I run Clearwater Paddling, a sea kayak guiding company based on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
“I was leading a group exploring the cliffs and caves on Barra’s west coast when my 15-year-old daughter Ellie spotted the compass jellyfish in a rocky canyon.
“They were in a steep rocky cove at Grean Head.
Incredible images show a mass of jellyfish – in Scottish waters. Sea kayaking tour guide Chris Denehy spotted the creatures on a paddle this week.
Mr Denehy said: “I was leading a group exploring the cliffs and caves on the west coast of Barra when my 15-year-old daughter Ellie spotted the compass jellyfish in a rocky canyon.”
“I jokingly said it was like kayaking in jellyfish soup gently stirred with a kayak paddle.”
The so-called jellyfish resemble a compass due to their markings and can cause an unpleasant sting that persists even after their tentacles have detached.
Mr. Denehy adds: “For the last 25 years I have seen large groups of jellyfish during the summer months when we have been kayaking.”
“But it was absolutely extraordinary and fascinating to have such an up-close encounter.”
However, he added that this might not be the best place to capsize out of a kayak.
Compass jellyfish can be seen in UK waters from May to October. They are native to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, including the UK, Ireland and Turkey.
They are orange-brown in color with bold points and prominent lines around the body.
The so-called jellyfish resemble a compass due to their markings and can cause an unpleasant sting that persists even after their tentacles have detached
Mr. Denehy adds, “For the last 25 years I have seen large groups of jellyfish during the summer months when we have been kayaking.”
Experts have warned that rising sea temperatures are now pushing the species closer to shore.
They have a diameter of up to 30 cm and a lifespan of up to a year. As they mature, they change sex from male to female.
Peter Tinsley, Marine Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “The sea is warming up and the water is fairly calm which has led to a boom in jellyfish numbers, making them more likely to be seen in the bays.”
“We have seen compass jellyfish all over the Dorset coast and I would advise anyone not to touch them because of their sting.”