A Day Spent Watching the Jellyfish

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.