Swimming Into Thimble Jellyfish

SWIMMING THROUGH THOUSANDS OF JELLYFISH

WITH PIX AND VID

BY SHUK YEE TSANG

These mesmerising images capture a diver swimming through a vast bloom of thimble jellyfish, creating what appears to be an underwater galaxy of drifting translucent creatures.

Award-winning underwater photographer Benjamin Yavar, 38, photographed the remarkable scene in Panglao, Bohol, in the Philippines.

The images show thousands of tiny jellyfish throughout the water, forming dense patterns and textures as sunlight filters through their transparent bodies.

Knowing the bloom could disappear at any moment, he quickly returned home to collect his camera equipment before heading straight back into the water.

The resulting photographs transform the swarm into what looks like a giant living cloud, with the diver appearing almost suspended in space among countless floating organisms.

While visually stunning, swimming through the bloom was not entirely comfortable.

Despite wearing protective gear, Benjamin suffered an itchy rash from the jellyfish stings that lasted for more than two days.

Thimble jellyfish are small jellyfish known for gathering in large seasonal blooms, which can create spectacular underwater scenes but can also cause irritation to swimmers and divers.

Benjamin said: "The images show a massive, dense bloom of thimble jellyfish creating an incredible texture in the water.

"At the time, I was completely focused on the patterns and the light filtering through thousands of translucent bodies.

"I wanted to compose a shot that felt grand and organised rather than just chaotic.

"Swimming through a bloom like this is incredibly surreal, like being suspended in a living nebula.

"I was already out in the water when I first spotted the jellyfish beginning to cluster.

"Recognising the moment had arrived, I immediately rushed back home, grabbed my full camera setup and headed straight back out into the ocean to catch them at the perfect moment.

"People are fascinated by the sheer volume of life in a single frame.

"Because my style leans toward a clean, minimalist aesthetic, people often tell me it looks more like an abstract painting than a typical underwater snapshot.

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