Paddleboarder surrounded by swarm of jellyfish in rare UK sighting

23 June 2023 , 22:02

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The paddleboarder were surrounded by jellyfish (Image: Jam Press/Sups Life)

A paddleboarding instructor was left stunned after being surrounded by hundreds of jellyfish in an amazing display in British waters on Wednesday.

Paddleboarder Andy Holland spotted the beautiful bloom of jellyfish whilst training with a student and said the experience was like paddling through “porridge".

Andy was with his pupil, Charlie, about 1.5 miles (2.4km) out at sea just off the Norfolk coast near Hunstanton having paddled further out to practise on some rougher water.

The instructor and companion became surrounded by dozens of the beautiful breed known as ‘moon jellyfish’ due to their clear, almost translucent appearance and round, circular bodies, which sharply stood out from the deep bluey-green seawater.

The pair were surrounded by jellyfish (Getty Images/500px)

The moons can sting humans with their hundreds of tiny tentacles. However, their effect is mild and not very dangerous for humans and luckily nobody was stung on this expedition.

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It is however advised you do not touch the jellyfish, or paddle miles out to sea in order to see them for yourself without a professional or experienced paddleboarder with you.

Moon jellyfish usually feed near the water’s surface and are not an uncommon sight near British coastlines, but Andy said “I've never seen so many jellyfish.”

The special sea creature sighting could be a result of the waters being hotter than average and negatively impacting the jellyfishes’ swimming ability, and leading to them swirling or getting caught up in the changing currents.

Andy, who runs paddle boarding school Sups Life, came across the fleet of fish while standing on his blue board having travelled out from the Norfolk shoreline.

A group of jellyfish when they come together like this are collectively called a bloom, smack, or sometimes the alliterative ‘fluther’.

Having been surrounded by the stunning sea creatures on all sides, Andy said: "Summer solstice padding.

"Never seen so many jellyfish, out on the sand banks 1.5 miles offshore it was like paddling in porridge."

Adding to any potential paddle-boarders: “We can’t always promise a sea of jellyfish but can guarantee the beautiful salt marshes and its wildlife.”

Eliza Brandreth