Swimmers around the coast of Cornwall may be shocked to come across the huge Barrel Jellyfish which can be seen in their hundreds off the south west coast. This one was filmed just off Penzance, in the warm waters of Mount's Bay.

However, these beautiful creatures, measuring up to a metre in diameter and growing over six feet long, are benign plankton feeders with no stinging tentacles and pose no threat to humans. They are here to feed on the waterborn algae which are blooming in the summer heat.

The Barrel Jellyfish, Rhizostoma Pulmo, isotherwise known as the dustbin-lid jellyfish or the frilly-mouthed jellyfish is the largest one in British waters, and is a favourite delicacy of the huge Leatherback Turtle, which have previously been seen off the Cornish coast.




Hopefully we'll have some footage of a Leatherback Turtle soon!