Image: A compass jellyfish in Aberaeron by Shane Jones.
For a small country, Wales has an abundance of coastline which attracts a wide variety of marine life due to our proximity to the Gulf Stream.
Here's a guide to some of the more common species you might encounter while surfing off the Welsh coast.
Whales
Besides the dolphins and porpoises - we also have a few whale species visiting Wales from time to time.
Minke whales are one of the smallest 'baleen whale' and tend to travel in small groups, visiting our coast between May and October.
They are dark grey to black in colour with a relatively tall sickle-shaped dorsal fin situated nearly two-thirds along its back.
Fin whales are also occasional visitors to the Pembrokeshire coast and are the second largest whale after the blue whale.
These enormous creatures are long and streamlined and can grow up to 88 feet in length.
We've also had humpback and minke whale washing up dead on our shores in recent times so they're definitely out there. You can find out more about whales and dolphins in UK waters by visiting the website.
Turtles
You might think that turtles only exist on hot, tropical beaches but Wales has long been a favourite haunt of the that come to feed on our plentiful supply of jellyfish.
The largest of the marine turtles - the leatherback can grow up to six feet in length and weigh around 1,200 lbs. The largest turtle ever recorded was found washed up at Harlech beach, North Wales in 1988 and weighed over 2,000 lbs!
We've also had kemp's ridleys, and hawksbill turtles being washed up around Wales.
If you find a turtle - dead or alive, please report it immediately to Marine Environmental Monitoring on 01348 875000. Never return stranded hard-shelled turtles back to the sea as it may kill them if they are injured, tired or cold.
Jellyfish
There are five main species that regularly visit the Welsh coast and these are the barrel, lion's mane, moon, compass and blue jellyfish.
We also have harmless by-the-wind-sailors washing up in their thousands along our beaches following autumn storms and the occasional portuguese-Man-o-War in summer.
The portuguese-man-o-war or bluebottle isn't technically a jellyfish but does visit our shores in summer when currents and wind, blow them off course.
They are considered to be dangerous due to their powerful sting and have been known to cause death.
They resemble a partially inflated blue balloon and float on the sea surface - using the wind to travel great distances. They are around 3 to 4 inches in length but have long tentacles underneath (up to 30 feet long) so keep your distance.
I've been stung three times whilst surfing in Australia and have lived to tell the tale but I wouldn't recommend the experience - red welts, numbness in the affected limbs and an intense burning pain for a couple of hours.
If stung - apply an ice pack to the affected area and the pain will subside within a couple of hours. Medical attention may be required however depending on the amount of venom delivered and the individual's reaction to it.
Barrel jellyfish are one of the largest species of jellyfish in the UK and are most likely to be seen either washed up dead on beaches or swimming out in deeper water.
You can often spot them from cliffs and rocks off Pembrokeshire around Stackpole Quay and some can weigh as much as 15kg but they're completely harmless.
Lion's mane jellyfish are another large species and can grow up to two metres in diameter. It's a typical jellyfish shape - big and round with a reddish-brown colour and powerful sting.
Moon jellyfish are often encountered by surfers as they wash up en masse during late summer. The adults grow up to 40cm in diameter and are a pale blue colour with transparent saucer shaped bell.
In the centre are four almost circular shaped gonads which are generally either a pink or blue colour. They are harmless with only a mild sting.
Compass jellyfish are around 20cm in diameter with a yellowish brown/yellow bell-shaped body. They have 16 brown, V-shaped marks radiating out from a central spot like the points on a compass.
They're found in temperate and tropical seas all over the world and will sting but are not considered to be dangerous.
Blue jellyfish or bluefire are very common and have been found as far south as Lundy in the Bristol Channel. The sting has a bit of a kick to it and is delivered from tentacles which can reach up to one metre in length.
They arrive in Wales from May to October and grow up to 20cm in diameter and normally wash in dead in the autumn. Despite their name, they can sometimes appear as pure white in colour.
Browse our to see some of the marine life mentioned in this article.
Article written by Martin Aaron
