Golden Jellyfish Lake in Palau...an amazing diving experience among jellyfish that do not sting

A bright pink mass appears in a lake located on a remote Micronesian island in Palau. Lilit Marcus, a producer in the travel department at Ufaq News, held her breath as the mass slowly approached, before suddenly inflating like a balloon.

“It was the most peaceful moment of my life,” Marcus said, but she needed to cross half the surface of the world to experience it. Although this mass appeared pink underwater, it was actually a golden jellyfish.

If this had been a diving trip elsewhere in the world, the appearance of jellyfish would have been a danger signal, prompting guides to turn divers away to avoid stings. But this small creature is different, as it does not sting, but rather belongs to a rare and beautiful species that is only found in this lake, which is located on a remote Micronesian island in the state of Palau.

Before Marcus knew about Palau or thought about visiting it, her journey to this destination began with an image of a lake filled with small golden creatures floating quietly in large numbers. The image has long been used as one of the wallpapers available for Apple devices.

“Even though I didn't know the context or location of the photo, it was captivating,” Marcus said. “It was the first photo I used as a screensaver on the first laptop I ever owned.”

Although the lake's official name is “Ongeim’l Tketau,” everyone knows it simply as “Jellyfish Lake.” There are many types of jellyfish around the world, but the unique conditions here have allowed the golden jellyfish to thrive.

Marine biologist Elspeth Strike said the lake consists of three completely separate layers of water, with very different characteristics, and only the upper, oxygen-rich layer supports life. “There are only 11 lakes with this stratified structure in the world, so it's a pretty special place,” Strike added.

The environmental advantage is not limited to the water features alone, as the lake is located within a rocky limestone island, forming a basin-like cavity. Over thousands of years, acid rain filled this cavity, turning it into a lake.

Tiny cracks in the limestone also allow limited amounts of seawater to seep in, creating these unique environmental conditions. Although the golden jellyfish is considered the star of the place, another species also lives here, known as the white moon jellyfish.

The two species are sometimes referred to as "sun jellyfish" and "moon jellyfish." The way to the lake Getting to Jellyfish Lake is not an easy weekend trip, as Palau's small airport only handles a limited number of flights per day.

For Marcus, the easiest and cheapest option to visit the place was to travel via Taipei. Palau is one of the few countries that has formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which has contributed to the establishment of strong air routes between them.

After landing in Koror and signing the Palau Pledge, which commits visitors to responsible environmental and cultural behaviour, it takes about an hour by boat to El Malek Island, and then a 10-15 minute walk to reach the lagoon. Upon arrival, visitors are asked to remove their clothes and shoes, clean out their pockets, and leave behind anything, even just dust, that might affect the purity of the water.

Il Malek is one of Palau's UNESCO-listed rock islands and is also home to the world's first shark sanctuary. Palau is very environmentally conscious, with reef-safe sunscreens required, and single-use plastic banned throughout the country.

Visiting the lake requires special permits that can cost up to $100 per person, and are often included in the cost of the boat rental. But the journey itself is part of what makes the place feel so out-of-this-world.

Marcus's group of eight divers and two guides were alone in the lake one afternoon in January. “I felt like we were the last people left on Earth,” she said.

Strike works with Four Seasons Explorer Palau Floating Resort, accompanying several guests to the Jellyfish Lagoon. Naturally, many visitors would want to take the famous photo of a jellyfish, but that photo was taken when the number of jellyfish was much greater than it is today.

So it is unlikely that any photographer will now be able to capture a similar scene. Although Marcus brought an underwater camera, photography became the last thing on her mind.

She emphasized: “Just floating in the water, and feeling in harmony with these special creatures that seem to flow to the rhythm of inaudible music, was a true spiritual experience.” Palau's jellyfish are even more important now, especially after a period when they almost disappeared altogether.

The El Niño phenomenon, which affects wind directions and water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, hit the country in 2006. Rainfall decreased, increasing the salinity of the lake and disrupting the delicate ecosystem that organisms need to survive.

For several years, the number of golden jellyfish has declined dramatically, and some experts fear they may disappear forever. But thanks to the efforts of scientists and local Palauans, that did not happen.

The lake was reopened to tourists in 2019, and today the golden jellyfish are a national symbol in Palau.