Swimming with Stingless Jellyfish: My Take on Nature’s Oddest Spa Experience

When people ask me what the weirdest thing I’ve done at work is, I usually say “Got chased by a goat in East Flores” or “Tried to DJ a beach party with a Bluetooth speaker and a machete.” But honestly? Swimming with thousands of stingless jellyfish in the middle of nowhere, in lakes you can only access by climbing a jungle-covered cliff in fins, probably wins.

As a cruise director for a yacht in Indonesia, I’ve had my fair share of surreal experiences. But nothing, and I mean nothing, comes close to the floaty, alien magic of Indonesia’s stingless jellyfish lakes.

Wait, What Even Is a Jellyfish Lake?

Glad you asked. Jellyfish lakes are marine lakes, basically, saltwater lakes that were once connected to the ocean but got isolated over time. Some clever jellyfish species got trapped in there, and because their usual predators were nowhere to be found, they evolved to lose their stingers.

Yes, you read that right. These jellyfish are harmless. No stinging. No screaming. No running back to the boat yelling “It touched me!!!” Just you, your swimsuit, and thousands of gelatinous blobs gently booping into your face like underwater marshmallows.

There are only about 20 jellyfish lakes known in the entire world, and five of them are in Indonesia. That’s right. My office, aka the sprawling Indonesian archipelago, hosts a solid quarter of them. And I’ve swum in every single one.

Let’s break down the what, the where, and the absolutely bizarre beauty of it all.

Indonesia’s 5 Stingless Jellyfish Lakes (Yes, Five!)

Here are the stars of the show:

1. Lenmakana Lake – Raja Ampat, West Papua

This is the diva of the jellyfish lakes. First of all, it makes you work for it. The only way to reach Lenmakana is by climbing a very steep limestone cliff, in the tropical heat, while trying not to slip and die with your fins and snorkel in hand. But once you descend into the lake? It’s jellyfish heaven.

The golden Papuan jellyfish in Lenmakana move with such rhythm, it’s like watching a silent underwater rave. There’s something both creepy and calming about it. You float. They float. It’s mutual. Like a very peaceful first date.

Pro Tip from Me: Wear reef shoes. The rocks on the way up have no chill.

2. Keramat Lake – Misool, Raja Ampat

Keramat is like Lenmakana’s emo cousin. The water here is deeper and darker, and the moon jellyfish that live here have a more ghostly look: translucent with that dreamy, glowing vibe. Honestly, it feels like you’re floating through the spirit world in a Studio Ghibli movie.

And while they’re stingless, I did have one bonk straight into my mouth. Nature’s revenge for that one time I said jellyfish are just “sea snot.”

3. Kakaban Lake – East Kalimantan (Derawan Islands)

The most famous jellyfish lake in Indonesia, and arguably the most accessible. Kakaban is massive and home to four different types of stingless jellyfish. That’s right. A full-on variety pack.

You’ve got:

• Golden jellyfish (classic)

• Moon jellyfish (ethereal)

• Upside-down jellyfish (yes, they lie on the bottom like little flat UFOs)

• Spotted jellyfish (with cute little dots)

Kakaban is an actual science fiction fever dream. There’s so much biodiversity here that I once overheard a guest say, “It’s like swimming in a lava lamp.” Accurate.

4. Mariona Lake – Togean Islands, Sulawesi

This one’s lesser-known, and I love it for that. You won’t find tour groups here, just the occasional lucky explorer. The stingless jellyfish here are golden too, but the atmosphere is different. It’s surrounded by dense forest, the lake is calm and serene, and everything feels like a secret.

I once had a guest cry after swimming here. Not in a bad way. In a spiritual awakening, I’m-one-with-nature-now kind of way. Mariona will do that to you.

5. Mbuang-Mbuang Lake – Banggai Islands, Sulawesi

Even more remote. Even fewer people. Even more “Am I still on Earth?” vibes. This lake is tucked away in a part of Indonesia most people can’t pronounce, let alone visit. And yet, the jellyfish here are thriving.

Getting here requires a bit of logistical magic (and sometimes begging your boat captain to make the detour), but if you’re lucky enough to land in Mbuang-Mbuang, you’ll likely have the whole lake and its stingless residents all to yourself.

Why Are Indonesia’s Jellyfish Lakes So Special?

Let’s talk bragging rights. Out of only 20 stingless jellyfish lakes in the world:

• 5 are in Indonesia

• They span thousands of kilometers

• Each lake has different species and different ecosystems

• And most are tucked in hard-to-reach, pristine corners of the country

Indonesia isn’t just about Komodo dragons and manta rays (though yes, those are very cool too). These lakes are a freak of nature in the best way possible. They’re evolution in real-time. A window into an alternate universe. And somehow, not on every travel blogger’s radar yet, thankfully.

What It’s Like to Swim with Stingless Jellyfish (According to Someone Who’s Done It Too Many Times)

Imagine this:

You slide into warm, calm water. You’re surrounded by limestone cliffs, birds are chirping, and the sun is dappled through jungle leaves. And then, squish, a jellyfish brushes past your arm.

You freeze. But then remember: these jellyfish don’t sting. At all.

So you relax. You start floating. And slowly, you realize you’re surrounded by thousands of jellyfish. They bump into you gently, pulsing along like the slow beat of a lo-fi playlist. There’s no danger. No rush. Just peace. Jellyfish zen.

Sometimes I just float on my back and close my eyes. Other times I film ridiculous Instagram stories like:

“POV: You’re a noodle in soup and the dumplings are alive.”

Tips From Your Resident Cruise Director

• Respect the jellyfish. No touching, poking, or scooping them into hats (yes, this happened once).

• Use reef-safe sunscreen or better yet, none at all. Sunscreen and jellyfish don’t mix.

• Don’t wear fins inside the lake—it stirs up the sediment and you’ll look like a clumsy duck.

• Bring a mask/snorkel, but leave the GoPro on wide angle. You won’t need close-ups.

• And most importantly: Don’t rush it. Float. Breathe. Pretend you’re in a slow-mo music video.

Floating Through Nature’s Fever Dream

Indonesia’s jellyfish lakes are one of the most surreal experiences you can have and I say that as someone who once danced with a village chief on a remote beach wearing a sarong and flippers.

They’re rare, remote, and weirdly beautiful. They remind you that nature doesn’t care about logic, it cares about wonder.

So if you're planning a yacht charter or island-hopping trip through Indonesia, please, for the love of jelly, ask your guide or cruise director (hi, that’s me) to include at least one of these lakes on the itinerary.

You won’t regret it. You might even cry. And that’s okay. Jellyfish don’t judge.

Thank you for reading and now back to happily roaming!