This is what it's like to come face to face with a barrel jellyfish ...
This incredible shot was captured by photographer Jordi Benitez off the coast of Spain. Each year, warm waters bring an influx of the creatures (Rhizostoma pulmo), who flock to the clear waters chasing their favourite food: plankton. Those billowing structures you see are called oral arms, and are covered in tiny mouth parts. It's no surprise then, that the drifter has also been nicknamed the "frilled-mouth jelly".
Contact with the stunning jellies results in minor welts, but their sting isn't particularly dangerous to humans. "The area has many sheltered, shallow and gently sloping beaches," says Benitez. "Often, you have to walk a long way to get depths of 2 metres (6 feet) or greater. They are completely sandy with no rocks on the bottom. These are excellent areas to find the jellyfish. The beauty of what we discover underwater, is the force that pushes me to take photographs. I want to show what is unknown to most people, to remind them to respect our seas, and realise how important they are."
For more beautiful photos of marine life, head to Benitez's website. These photos were reposted with permission from our friends at WetPixel.
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