The creatureswere sighted just off Pendennis Point near Falmouth and stunned passengers on a sea life cruiseThe creatureswere sighted just off Pendennis Point near Falmouth and stunned passengers on a sea life cruise
Passengers aboard a sea life cruise were stunned after coming across a giant swarm of thousands of jellyfish over a mile in length - off Britain.
The creatures, collectively known as a smack or smother, were sighted just off Pendennis Point near Falmouth, Cornwall in the sunshine.
They were sighted by passengers and crew of AK Wildlife Cruises who couldn't believe their eyes.
Capt Keith Leeves was skippering the boat and said he has not seen anything like it in 14 years.
"It was eerie and a little unnerving if I'm honest," he said.
"It stretched over a mile in length. There were thousands of them. I've never seen anything like that in all the years I've been doing this - it was spectacular.
"It's early in the year too. There must be lots of plankton in the water for them to feed on.
"You can only assume the jellyfish will just keep coming - the shoals will grow bigger and the jellyfish may too.
"Everyone on board was stunned - our eyes were bulging. It was spectacular - they are graceful beautiful creatures."
The warmer weather has lured the mysterious creatures closer to the coast and tourist bosses have now launched a guide.
Matt Fletcher from Stay In Cornwall said: "We want to put the minds of holidaymakers at ease by showing that jellyfish are not as harmful as they may appear.
"Swimming in the sea is one of the most enjoyable parts of a coastal holiday and one that should not be avoided simply because of jellyfish in the water."
Dr Matthew Witt, Lecturer in Natural Environment at the University of Exeter's campus in Cornwall said: "Jellyfish are an important part of our British wildlife and lead amazing lives - we see them year round, but mostly in summer months and lots around the South West, this is a great place to see marine wildlife
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"But remember look and don't touch."assengers aboard a sea life cruise were stunned after coming across a giant swarm of thousands of jellyfish over a mile in length - off Britain.
The creatures, collectively known as a smack or smother, were sighted just off Pendennis Point near Falmouth, Cornwall in the sunshine.
They were sighted by passengers and crew of AK Wildlife Cruises who couldn't believe their eyes.
Capt Keith Leeves was skippering the boat and said he has not seen anything like it in 14 years.
"It was eerie and a little unnerving if I'm honest," he said.
"It stretched over a mile in length. There were thousands of them. I've never seen anything like that in all the years I've been doing this - it was spectacular.
"It's early in the year too. There must be lots of plankton in the water for them to feed on.
"You can only assume the jellyfish will just keep coming - the shoals will grow bigger and the jellyfish may too.
"Everyone on board was stunned - our eyes were bulging. It was spectacular - they are graceful beautiful creatures."
The warmer weather has lured the mysterious creatures closer to the coast and tourist bosses have now launched a guide.
Matt Fletcher from Stay In Cornwall said: "We want to put the minds of holidaymakers at ease by showing that jellyfish are not as harmful as they may appear.
"Swimming in the sea is one of the most enjoyable parts of a coastal holiday and one that should not be avoided simply because of jellyfish in the water."
Dr Matthew Witt, Lecturer in Natural Environment at the University of Exeter's campus in Cornwall said: "Jellyfish are an important part of our British wildlife and lead amazing lives - we see them year round, but mostly in summer months and lots around the South West, this is a great place to see marine wildlife.
"But remember look and don't touch."