With comb jelly season in full swing, Floridians have already started planning their weekend getaways to Cocoa Beach.
But what is it about these gelatinous animals that attracts people from across the state and beyond? Well, for starters, they’re bioluminescent. They radiate a beautiful glow for the purpose of scaring predators away. Witnessing their bioluminescence is a wondrous, multisensory experience.
But that’s not all.
Here are five reasons why you should make the most of comb jelly season this fall and plan the ultimate tour.
1. They Don’t Sting!
Unlike jellyfish, comb jellies don’t sting. Instead, they use unique sticky cells—colloblasts—to catch their prey. Since they don’t possess stinging cells, they can be safely touched. In fact, you can also swim around with them!
2. The Ultimate Visual Treat
Comb jellies are known to produce stripes of glittering, vivid rainbow colors that immediately catch the eye and take your breath away. In fact, they also produce a stunning, flashing blue-green light each time something touches them.
What makes them so interesting is that they always produce unique colors. No matter how many times you witness the gorgeous aquatic creatures, you’ll always have a unique experience.
3. They’re Prehistoric Sea Creatures
Comb jellies are older than dinosaurs. Sounds odd, right? Well, they’ve been around for over 500 million years—possibly even 700 million! As one of the first living organisms on the planet, they’ve been drifting through the ocean for three times longer than dinosaurs have been around!
When it comes to the history of animal evolution, comb jellies play a significant role in the process since they were one of the first animals to evolve. This makes them even more compelling and fascinating. No wonder Florida is obsessed with the unique prehistoric creatures.
4. They’re Experts at Hide and Seek
Since they’re transparent, comb jellies are better at hide and seek than the Cheshire Cat. We’d go so far as to say they’re camouflaging prodigies. This is what makes them so great at avoiding predators.
5. They’re More Active During Fall and Winter
Comb jellies prefer cooler water bodies, which is why they’re so easy to spot during fall and winter! As the waters cool down, they become more active.
Comb Jelly Kayak Tours
At Adventure Kayak of Cocoa Beach, we go the extra mile to offer safe, fun, affordable, and memorable comb jelly kayak tours. Available mid-October to March, our tours are perfect for the whole family.
Check out our bioluminescent kayak tours for all the details. We cover a wide range of locations, including Ramp Road Park, Kiwanis Island Park, Cocoa Beach Country Club, Honest John’s Fish Camp, Turkey Creek Sanctuary, and Thousand Islands, among many more.
Click here to book a tour and get started! For more information, feel free to call 321-480-8632.
