（Diving enthusiasts swim alongside stingless golden jellyfish）

In the waters of West Papua, Indonesia, there lies a hidden paradise known as the Raja Ampat Islands, often called the “Marine Eden.” In one of its lakes lives a rare species of “stingless golden jellyfish.” Visitors can swim among thousands, even tens of thousands of these jellyfish, experiencing a magical, fairy-tale-like world.

（Stingless golden jellyfish）

These jellyfish are a rare, non-toxic species, with translucent bodies tinged in soft gold, drifting gracefully in the clear lake waters. Having lived in an isolated environment with few natural predators, they have gradually evolved to lose their aggressiveness and rarely sting, relying instead on symbiotic algae within their bodies for energy. This makes it possible for visitors to safely snorkel and swim among them, enjoying the surreal sensation of being surrounded by gentle jellyfish.

（Stingless golden jellyfish）

Similar natural wonders have existed elsewhere. In Palau, Jellyfish Lake was once revered by divers for its spectacular daily migrations of millions of non-toxic jellyfish.

However, according to reports from National Geographic and other sources, climate change-induced El Niño events, rising lake temperatures, and ecological disturbances from large numbers of tourists have caused jellyfish populations there to plummet in recent years, at one point nearing disappearance. This serves as a stark reminder: even the most paradise-like places are fragile.

In the Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines, small colonies of non-toxic jellyfish have also been discovered, highlighting the profound impact of isolated ecological environments on species evolution. While isolation has fostered these miracles of nature, it has also left them highly vulnerable to external environmental changes.

Raja Ampat is not only a jellyfish paradise but also recognized by international conservation organizations as the area with the highest coral reef biodiversity in the world—home to over 75% of known coral species, a true “ark of life.”

In recent years, local authorities and conservation groups have strengthened ecological monitoring and visitor management, limiting daily visits and prohibiting sunscreens harmful to coral and jellyfish, striving to balance tourism with ecological protection.

If you wish to enter this shimmering, golden dreamlike water, it is crucial to adopt responsible travel practices: opt for full-coverage swimwear or wetsuits for physical sun protection, avoid chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone and similar ingredients, move gently in the water, do not touch any marine life, and leave no trace behind.

Only by doing so can we ensure these “Marine Edens” continue to radiate their golden brilliance for generations to come.