These remarkable photographs show a huge bloom of thimble jellyfish filling the waters off Panglao, Philippines, creating an extraordinary underwater scene for photographer Ben Yavar.
Thimble jellyfish blooms are a natural seasonal phenomenon in the area, but Ben said this year’s bloom was far larger than any he had seen before, with vast numbers of jellyfish drifting together beneath the surface.
Although he knew the jellyfish season was approaching and had his camera gear ready, the scale of the encounter caught him by surprise. While out on an unrelated dive, Ben suddenly came across the enormous swarm, prompting him to return home, collect his camera and head back out by boat to photograph it.
The jellyfish paid little attention to their human visitor as they drifted with the currents. Swimming among them was an intense experience, however, as the tiny creatures can cause itchy and painful stings. Ben wore a full wetsuit for protection, though his face, lips and hands remained exposed.
Ben spent around an hour diving beneath the bloom and looking up through the seemingly endless mass of jellyfish. He described the experience as a sensory overload and the fulfilment of a long-held ambition to photograph a bloom on such a scale.
Images by: Ben Yavar/TwoPointO Media
