Journeys›Photograph

A Day Spent Watching the Jellyfish

·San Francisco, California·#winter#bay area#aquarium#jellyfish
Two pale, bell-shaped jellyfish with red markings and trailing tentacles float in blue water.

I spent a day in January 2010 at an aquarium, almost entirely focused on the jellyfish exhibits. The rooms are kept dark, so the only real light source is the deep, glowing blue of the tanks themselves. It makes for a very immersive and quiet experience.

I just stood and watched the different species drift past the glass. Some were pale and translucent with delicate, trailing tentacles, while others were a deep, solid orange, moving in dense groups. Their slow, pulsing movements are completely mesmerizing. You can get right up to the acrylic and just focus on one as it floats by.

The largest exhibit has a massive viewing window. It was interesting to take a step back and see all the other visitors, just dark silhouettes against the bright blue tank. Everyone was pretty quiet, just standing and watching the wall of jellyfish drift by together. It was a simple, calm way to spend an afternoon.

Two brown and yellow jellyfish with long tentacles swim in bright blue water.Numerous orange and brown jellyfish with long, delicate tentacles swim in vibrant blue water.Many orange and brown jellyfish with long tentacles swim gracefully in bright blue water.Numerous translucent, pale jellyfish float gracefully in vibrant blue water.Several translucent jellyfish with yellow-orange centers float in deep blue water.Numerous brown and golden jellyfish with flowing tentacles in bright blue water.Silhouettes of people watch numerous orange jellyfish swimming in a large blue aquarium tank.Numerous orange jellyfish with long, flowing tentacles swim in bright blue water.

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