Lizzy Daly was diving in the UK and thought she was going to have a perfectly normal day. When all was said and done, however, she had an experience that still makes her smile.
She met a giant barrel jellyfish and she couldn’t have been more excited.
Daly is a biologist, so she already realized that this particular jellyfish could grow to very large sizes.
This one took her by surprise. “I’ve never seen one that big,” Daly told The Dodo.
The special moment was able to be captured so she could remember it for pictures. She happened to be with an underwater cinematographer, Dan Abbott when they were diving off the coast of Cornwall. It was part of Wild Ocean Week and Daly was highlighting some of the amazing things in the ocean to inspire others to protect that resource.
Seeing the giant jellyfish was the icing on the cake.
Day 7 WILD OCEAN WEEK ???? | GIANT Barrel JellyfishDiving with a giant barrel jellyfish in Cornwall to celebrate the end of #WildOceanWeek ????Massive throw to Sharkman Dan for the wonderful footage Spend 2 minutes of the end of WILD OCEAN WEEK watching this beautiful moment where I come face to face with a barrel jellyfish THE SAME SIZE AS ME while diving off of the coast of Falmouth ????So excited that I actually say 'Barrel Fish' instead of Barrel Jellyfish ha!!!What an INCREDIBLE experience – both Dan 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.For anybody who is in Cornwall do come on down to Maenporth tomorrow at 12pm for a beach clean. There should be a good crowd of us rounded up now so it will be fun – and it will be followed by a small talk about the trip! See you THEN xMarine Conservation Society Cornish Diving CentreThe Wildlife Trusts @Cornwall Wildlife Trust Falmouth Cornwall UK
Posted by Lizzie Daly Wildlife on Saturday, July 13, 2019
“Spend two minutes of the end of Wild Ocean Week watching this beautiful moment where I come face to face with a barrel jellyfish THE SAME SIZE AS ME,” Daly shared with her Facebook followers.
She later talked about how it was both grounding and serene to be up close and personal with such an incredible creature.
“[It shows us] why it’s so important to protect our oceans,” she said.