Lurefjorden north of Bergen is home to the fantastic deep-sea jelly Periphylla periphylla, also known as crown jelly. There animals normally live on a depth of 7-800 to 7-8000 meters, but in Lurefjorden they can be found thriving in "just" 400 meters of water.
To see these amazing creatures it is necessary to dive at night in the winter (february is the best time). The dive is done in the middle ov the fjord, over deep water, as the jellies migrate vertically. The best time is a moonless night between midnight and 02:00. If you're lucky, you'll see thousands!
Every february we do a special "jelly safari" weekend with Gulen Dive Resort (www.gulendiveresort.com), the only resort in the world to offer this unique experience. Diving is for advanced/experienced divers only, as it is done in open, pitch black water several hundret feet above the bottom. It is very easy to loose track of your depth as there are no points of reference.
Facts about Lurefjorden
It is in Norway- Lurefjorden is in the North Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 30+ Metres 100+ Feet.
by
Christian SkaugeAlien of the Deep - the deep-sea jelly Periphylla periphylla. Nightdive at 01:30 in february 2008, 600 feet above bottom. Nikon D200 in Nexus housing, 18-70 mm, manual.