Discover 'Jellyfish Lake' on a Luxury Yacht Charter in Palau Islands

By Editorial Team 24 October 2014

Already a diver’s paradise, one particular island in the Republic of Palau has something truly unique to offer those on a Pacific yacht charter. Each day on Eil Malk, jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake. Not only is their movement unusual, how these enigmatic animals got here in the first place is unanswered.

Descend underwater at the isolated ‘Ongeim’l Tketau’ lake on your day in Eil Malk of your Palau charter itinerary and find yourself immersed into another world, only a stone’s throw away from the ocean. Each day around 21 million jellyfish migrate across the 12-thousand-year-old lake and create quite a spectacle for those lucky enough to have witnessed it first-hand.

underwater at jellyfish lake on a luxury yacht charter in the palau islands

travel to the pacific for a luxury yacht charter in the palau islands

view from water's surface at jellyfish lake on a luxury yacht charter in the palau islands

The jellyfish appear to follow a distinct migratory pattern, making a journey vertically to lower levels of water to gather nutrients then criss-crossing across the lake throughout the day, from east to west in the morning and back across in the afternoon. If you look closely each one also rotates their bodies counter-clockwise as they swim, to get the most amount of sunlight possible to ensure their survival.

So many jellyfish inhabit the 30m deep lake that their sheer mass is visible from above. Both golden jellyfish (pictured) and moon jellyfish can be found at Eil Malk, and most are only as small as the human fist.

...most jellyfish are only as small as the human fist...

travel to the pacific for a lmeet jellyfish smaller than the human hand on a luxury yacht charter in the palau islands

A pass can be obtained to access what locals have named ‘Jellyfish Lake,’ costing $100, it lasts for 10 days. Scuba diving may be prohibited but snorkelling is allowed throughout the day - a must do experience whilst in Eil Malk, especially as Jellyfish lake is the only one in Palau open to visitors. The latest snorkelling gear is equipped on nearly every yacht in the charter fleet.

Rest assured you and your guests are safe during your trip, as both types of jellyfish’s stinging cells cannot cause harm to humans.

A diving charter vacation elsewhere Palau additionally offers astonishing vertical drops, coral reefs, blue holes, wartime wrecks and secret caves and tunnels to explore. The surrounding flora and fauna inland and friendly locals you’ll come across make it the ideal retreat.

snorkel on a than the human hand on a luxury yacht charter in the palau islands at jellyfish lake

Images give a great impression but do not fully recreate the magic of experiencing Jellyfish Lake with your own eyes. To discover this wonder whilst visiting one of the greatest diving locations in the world, talk to your preferred charter broker about organising a Palau yacht charter.