jellyfish lake

The Rock Islands hide more than 60 mysterious marine lakes. These lakes are part of the ocean and the water in the lake changes with the tides. Some of them are as deep as 90' (30m) and others more shallow. Several marine lakes are completely isolated from the surrounding ocean (water flows in through cracks in the limestone).

Because of the lack of predators and surrounding influence some very unique marine life has developed in these lakes.

The most famous of which is the Jellyfish Lake at Ail-Malk. A steep climb to the top of the rock island and than a quick decent leads the snorkeler (scuba diving is not allowed) into a blue lake with lush green vegetation surrounding it. Two species of jellyfish living in the lake, the big white Moon Jellyfish and the Mestiga, have lost their ability to sting.

The Mestiga Jellyfish depends on Algae for food, thus hosting them in their bodies. In order to provide sun light for photosynthesis, the jellyfish follow the sun across the lake. During El Nino (see #2 FAQ), the Mestiga Jellyfish had disappeared from the lake due to higher water temperatures.

The Jellyfish did not die. Jellyfish life cycle begins as a polyp then transforms into Larva and then the Larva transform to Jellyfish. If the water conditions are not right (such as in the El Nino phenomenon), the larva are simply transferred back to Polyps.

From studies conducted in 1998, 1999 and 2000, scientists learned that the number of larva/polyp remained the same and determined that when conditions improved the jellyfish would return.

In March 2000, Fish ‘n Fins dive guides noticed the first jellyfish in the lake since El Nino.