Divers In Cornwall Report Steep Rise In Pelagic Jellyfish Numbers

Our friend Mark Milburn from Atlantic Scuba in Falmouth, Cornwall UK has reported that over the last few weeks, divers and boats in the Falmouth area have been encountering more and more Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma Octopus, Rhizostoma Pulmo).

These large pelagic species can reach up to 90cm across, and those that have been encountered in Falmouth are around that size, reports Mark.

Feeding mainly on plankton, they are thought to spend most of the time at depth, coming up when the plankton blooms. With the increasing in water visibility, as the plankton starts to die back, they are getting easier to spot. Despite it’s large size, the Barrel Jellyfish’s sting isn’t strong enough to be harmful to humans.

If you’re going diving in Falmouth and you manage to see one and get close, look for the various creatures that live within the jellyfish.

For more information about diving in Falmouth, visit www.atlanticscuba.co.uk.