This morning we watched dozens of Atlantic box jellies hunting with the small bait fish in the shallows next to the dock. About 3cm by 5cm each, they gently floated around trying to catch something in their trailing tentacles. In my junior year of college, I heard a student tell a story about being stung by a box jelly as a kid and I internally rolled my eyes, thinking no child could have survived a box jelly sting. Turns out I was wrong! The Australian box jellies are definitely lethal, but the Atlantic ones pack a powerful, painful punch. We stayed out of the water and let them do their thing….
- November 30, 2024
- 0830 local time
- Partly cloudy but calm, NE waters, winds 6 mph
- Air temperature: 79F
- Water temperature: 62F
- Moon phase: New moon
- Because Northern storms have rolled through, colder water flushes across Lighthouse Reef. This means some creatures can travel into the (usually very warm) shallow waters.
- Likely species: Tamoya haplonema