A wildlife biologist and BBC Earth host, Lizzie Daly, spotted a gigantic barrel jellyfish off the coast of England.
According to Wildlife Trusts, the diameter of the jellyfish can reach nearly 90 centimeters. However, the one with which Daly swam was as large as her body.
“What an INCREDIBLE experience,” Daly said in a Facebook video post of the exciting encounter. “Both [photographer] Dan [Abbott] and I have never seen anything like it. I couldn’t think of a better way to finish the week in celebrating our incredible oceans.”
As part of “Wild Ocean Week,” Daly has hosted a series of videos discussing the ocean and its diverse animals.
As she recalls the interaction in the video, Daly’s enthusiasm for the experience is palpable.
“We just swam with a giant barrel [jelly]fish!” she says in the video after the dive. “I’ve never seen a barrel [jelly]fish — or any jellyfish that big. And it was the size of my body. And it was the best thing I’ve ever done.”
“And what a way to finish Wild Ocean Week here in Cornwall, here experiencing something like that,” she said. “Absolutely incredible.”
According to the Wildlife Trusts, while barrel jellyfish is the largest jellyfish species residing off the coast of the United Kingdom, they are typically only noticed when they wash up on beaches. The creatures are typically observed between May and October.
According to the group, while the creatures are often harmless to humans, they can still hurt after death.
