As someone who loves both scuba diving and snorkeling, I often find myself choosing the former for its comfort and freedom. However, when I discovered Jellyfish Lake in Palau, a place teeming with gorgeous jellyfish, my first thought was to go scuba diving. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible for two reasons.

Firstly, the lake has a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide at the bottom, which can be poisonous to humans. Secondly, the delicate jellyfish could be harmed by bubbles from a tank. As such, we had to settle for snorkeling.

Located on the famous Rock Islands, Eli Malk, Jellyfish Lake is estimated to be around 120,000 years old and 30 meters deep. Despite the jellyfish having stinging cells, they are not harmful to humans. The lake is home to two species of jellyfish: golden jellyfish and moon jellyfish. The golden jellyfish, with its beautiful golden brown color, is especially stunning to behold.

To get to the lake, we had to hike up a steep hill, so I advise against wearing flip-flops due to the slippery stairs. Water shoes are a better option. As jellyfish follow the sun, it’s easy to locate them on the sunny side of the lake. However, it’s important to be careful while snorkeling to avoid harming the delicate creatures with fins.

If you plan to visit Jellyfish Lake, remember that a permit is required, which can be obtained in combination with Rock Islands for a price of $100. This does not include tours or transportation, but the experience is definitely worth it. Snorkeling with these incredible creatures was one of the highlights of my trip to Palau, and I highly recommend it to anyone.