Cassiopeia Andromeda

​What do you think of when you hear Medusa? For me, it's the Greek myth of Medusa. One of the most intriguing myths to me. Medusa was the child of two ancient ocean deities. A ravishingly beautiful maiden victimized by the goddess Athena out of jealousy. Turned into a monster with snakes for hair and a gaze that would turn those who looked into her eyes to stone.  But did you know Medusa is also another name for jellyfish? Fitting if you compare the jellyfish body as her head and the tentacles to her serpent hair. In Palau our most well know lake and top attraction is our Jellyfish Lake. You swim amongst thousands of stingless jellyfish. The experience is quite peaceful and majestic. 

I recently went out on a day of adventure with some of my brothers from our RIKE team and we chose to take a break on a beach. We had heard of a lake being up and over the high peaks of the rock island and decided to explore. Moving into the rock island further through a swampy mud flat and into the forest, we began to climb the jagged limestone -- all of us anticipating the climb and how far our journey would take us. We finally came upon a our lake we had been searching for.
 
​Visiting these exclusive lakes are always a lottery. Because the lakes are enclosed and the only water flowing in and out is through cracks, holes or tunnels through the limestone; you get a wild card of possibilities. It's  not uncommon to see crocodiles in many of these lakes so we took caution and began to snorkel. Immediately we came across upside down jellyfish (Cassiopeia Andromeda). 

Does Cassiopeia or Andromeda ring a bell for anyone? For me no. At least the names. I was thrilled to hear there was another connection of jellyfish with Greek mythology and even more intrigued that it related to Medusa. Andromeda was Cassiopeia's daughter. Cassiopeia boasted that Andromeda was more beautiful than the sea nymphs and this offended Poseidon. He demanded Andromeda would be sacrificed to the sea monster. Perseus saved Andromeda by revealing the head of Medusa and turning the sea monster to stone. Oddly enough Medusa was pregnant when Perseus killed her and Poseidon's offspring sprang forth, Pegasus and Chrysaor. Chrysaora is also a type of Jellyfish or sea nettle. 

Unlike the Golden medusa in jellyfish lake (Mastigias papua) these upside down jellyfish paralyze their prey with nematocysts and will cause a sting that is painful to humans. We continued and were surprised to see a carpet of these upside down jellyfish across the whole lake floor. So many they were also free floating.

Carefully moving through the labyrinth of Cassiopeia Andromeda we continued to explore the lake. Every corner new to discovery and thrilling yet daunting knowing that if the jellyfish felt threatened they could release their nematocysts (stinging cells) into the water.

​Despite the uneasiness of the jellyfish the lake was eerie yet enchanting to me.  Spots so visible and clear with light beaming through then into brackish water where you feel distorted. Mangrove roots with delicate sponges, anemone and oysters encrusted. There was a film along the bottom that looked like spooky smoke. It was intertwined by big mangrove roots with beautiful green algae covering them. Small shrimp all around a couple of fish made the small community of the lake.

We made our way back to the beach and fulfillment and joy overflow my soul. An experience and lake I will never forget. The best part is knowing its hidden, protected and will remain a secret only for those who come from this land to enjoy and see. 

By: EliLai Kei Sugiyama