https://vimeo.com/50036219
I saw one of these in 90 ft. of water near the surface along a sargassum weed line and a ton of moon jellys today off Ft. Lauderdale on the Sea Experience. We were over the wreck of the "Houseboat" about 3/4 mile north of Sunrise Blvd.. It looks like the moon jelly population explosion this year may be worse than last year from early impressions btw. They kept clogging up my dive scooter in a honking strong south running current. Later, I think I saw a school of these guys on the second dive in about 25 ft. of water over the second reef. A group of about 20 individuals were schooling fairly close together, aligned head down over a sand area. The school was over the eastern portion of the outer second reef about 1/2 mile off Sunrise Blvd.. It is interesting that the school oriented head down towards the nearby bottom. The solitary individual I saw in 85 ft. of water oriented upward towards the nearby sargassum mat as you can see on the video. I didn't capture the teeth too well in these shots. It has a nasty mouthful of backward curved teeth similar to some aphotic species you see. Would think it could make off with a finger fairly easily.
I don't recall having seen any of these guys on or around the reefs before. All the sudden today I see a bunch over two dives?! Have many others seen these very commonly on South Florida reefs or in pelagic areas?
Thanks
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