From Hong Kong to California, there are some unique and magnificent beaches that glow neon blue at night. This natural phenomenon is mainly caused by phytoplankton, a type of microalgae that floats at the surface of ocean water. They emit a bright blue light after they become agitated by wave movements or nearby swimming fish. Use our guide to discover 12 countries to kayak in glowing water.
Where is bioluminescent waters found?
These bioluminescent phytoplankton are mostly found in salt water bodies because one of the chemicals needed for producing this bioluminescent reaction is not found in freshwater. This phenomenon of glowing water happens all the time but it is visible in low light.
Now, you know why the seawater glows blue or green or red on some beaches, let’s check out a few beautiful beaches where you can experience this magical phenomenon.
Best Times to View Bioluminescent Bay
While we see bioluminescence all year long, your bioluminescent experience can depend on the time of year as well as what phase the moon is in. In the summer months, we see a bioluminescence produced by dinoflagellates. In the winter months, we see a bioluminescence produced by comb jellies. In certain months while we transition between the dinoflagellates and comb jellies, we are often able to see both of them out on the water!
1.United States
Our first recommendation where you can observe the bioluminescence aesthetic on display is at Indian River Lagoon. This phenomenon benefits from two local species creating a light show, as bioluminescent algae and comb jellyfish combine to create an impressive marine light display here on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Three of the bioluminescent bays are in Puerto Rico. Mosquito Bay, Laguna Grande and La Parguera. Mosquito bio bay is one of the three bio bays in Puerto Rico, and it holds the Guinness Record for the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Mosquito Bay’s dinoflagellates reach up to 70,000 per gallon of water.
If you hit southern California beaches at the right time, you can catch bioluminescent action in the waves of the Pacific Ocean all the way from San Diego to Santa Barbara. But the most consistent concentration of dinoflagellates sits just north of San Diego in areas around La Jolla and Torrey Pines.
Another incredible sea night beach can be found in Manasquan in New Jersey, where family-friendly bioluminescence kayaking and paddle board tours immerse you in the light show experience. Marvel as the bioluminescent algae lights up to create dazzling electric blue as your paddle disturbs the water beneath you.
Big South Fork is the native home of a rare annual firefly gathering phenomenon that usually occurs around the second week of June. The area, which is best known for its long, winding gorges and natural sandstone bridges, draws in those people who wish to see the incredible display put on by the fireflies as they congregate and flash in unique patterns and sequences which indicate gender, territory and mating.Manasquan Beach is also famous for its surfing and sports fishing.
Located in Washington State, far away from warm tropical waters, San Juan Island has its own attractions – spectacular surrounding landscape, pebbled beaches, pods of passing orcas, and one of the largest lavender farms in the country. Surprisingly, the waters around San Juan Island are also known for spectacular bioluminescence, normally encountered in warm nutrient-rich tropical waters.
2. Mexico
Mexico has five bioluminescent beaches. The noctiluca scintillans or ‘the sea sparkle’ thrive in Mexico’s warm tropical waters and create unforgettable bright-blue night shows. When detecting a threat nearby (which includes any type of movement), these phytoplankton produce a chemical reaction that sets the night ablaze with an ice-blue light.
1.Holbox Beach is also known for nightly bioluminescence caused by phytoplankton in the water. During dark, warm summer nights, the water lights up bright blue, green and silver. It literally looks like an aquatic firework show, especially when it rains. Swim or stroll along the beach—Holbox is known as the best barefoot beach in Mexico due to its smooth sands.
Quaint Playa de Bucerías sits tucked away from the busy resorts of the Nayarit Riviera, making a perfect spot for enjoying this tranquil natural phenomenon. By day, the beautiful golden sands and gentle surf of Playa de Bucerías are perfect for sunbathing and bodysurfing. At night, the water glows and sparkles bright-neon blue, even glittering on the sand as the waves move onshore.
Deep in the Yucatán Peninsula, you’ll find Xpicob, a beach home to a colony of phytoplankton. Xpicob is about 15 kilometers (nine miles) away from San Francisco de Campeche. At night the lights get so bright that you’ll see fish at the bottom of the sea.You should hire a guide to view the bioluminescence here. The plankton live further off-shore, but you’ll be surprised to know that the warm Pacific water is only waist-deep there—just be careful with oncoming ocean waves.
The Manialtepec Lagoon is located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca Puerto . Here the bioluminescent lights look like blue stars shining across the beach. Rent a kayak and sail the water at night—it’s fascinating seeing how the darkness lights up in icy blue sparkles when your oar strikes the water. If you dare to swim in this lagoon, you will be surrounded by neon lights.
Nestled in the south of Oaxaca in the Chacahua Lagoons National is the beautiful Lagunas de Chacahua. This bay lights up in neon green and blue at night, giving the area an eerie, otherworldly glow.Rent a motor-less boat to explore the lagoon, take a dip in the water and swim surrounded by beautiful microorganisms. This area is not just home to phytoplankton, but over 130 species of flora and fauna.
3.New Zealand
Waitomo Caves Beach and Coastal is a small village located in the Waikato region of the North Island. It is a major tourist attraction and a well-known destination famed for its population of glowworms, Arachnocampa Luminosa which are found exclusively in New Zealand . Here, visitors can have easy access to the caves and can enjoy the popular guided activity i.e. ‘black water rafting’ in which visitors float through the caves in huge tubes viewing glowworms and cave decorations.
5. Costa Rica
Golfo Dulce is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in the southern region of the Puntarenas province. Not as popular a tourist destination as Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce attracts passionate surfers looking for the world’s longest left-hand breaks, for which the town of Pavones is well known.The area is also the location of a dense rainforest within Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas, with spectacular biodiversity and a significant indigenous population. Golfo Dulce is also a great place to observe bioluminescence at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge.
6.Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in northeast Vietnam. The bay is well known for its massive limestone islands covered by dense rainforest and surrounded by emerald green waters. Most visitors go around aboard traditional junk boats or sea kayaks, passing by the more famous islands such as the Teapot Islets or Stone Dog. The whole area is famous for great scuba diving, hiking and rock climbing, especially throughout Cát Bà National Park.
7. Jamaica
Located near the town of Falmouth along the vast marshlands of Trelawny, Luminous used to play an important role during the heyday of Jamaica’s sugar trade. Located at the point where the Martha Brae River spills into the Caribbean Sea, the lagoon had a big wharf where large British vessels once docked. As the sugar trade declined, the lagoon became a popular tourist destination for one unique feature: It is one of the best places in the country to observe bioluminescence – a light produced here by tiny organisms called dinoflagellates that glow in the dark in the shallow warm waters of the lagoon. On a dark night, millions of these little animals light everything they touch, from fish to plants and the occasional swimmer – tour guides bring their visitors to the quiet waters at night and let them swim surrounded by the magical lights.
8.Bali, Indonesia
Pandang Bai is a town near Candidasa in eastern Bali. The town and its ferry port are the starting point for many touristy destinations such as Lembar on Lombok, the Gilis, and other Lesser Sunda Islands. Pandang Bai is one of the busiest in Bali, with thousands of tourists heading to Lombok and its wonderful white sandy beaches. Diving is one of the most important activities, especially in Blue Lagoon, Tanjung Bungsil, and the Padang Bay.
9.Thailand
Ton Sai, located not far from the popular Thai tourist destination of Krabi, is a beach popular with backpackers looking for inexpensive accommodation as well as rock climbing crowds who come to explore the excellent rock climbing opportunities in the area. The beach is not particularly nice and at low tide it becomes rocky and unsuitable for swimming.
10.Maldives
Vaadhoo Island in Raa Atoll in the Maldives is a tiny island with only about 500 permanent residents, just another spot of heaven on Earth like so much of the Maldives. As if sparkling white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical jungle weren’t enough, Vaadhoo has something that makes it even more special than other islands of its kind – here you can swim in the Sea of Stars.
11.Japan
Toyama Bay does not glow because of algae. Rather, it glows because of squid—firefly squid, to be exact. While these specimens typically live deep in the sea, an unusual current brings them to the surface in this bay. In the town of Namerikawa, there’s actually a museum dedicated to firefly squid.
12.Hong Kong
A phenomenon known as the red tide (which is, as you might have guessed, when the water turns red, due to a bloom of microorganisms) has been linked to bioluminescence. This is the case with Sam Mun Tsai beach in Hong Kong, which sometimes has crimson water during the day and glowing blue water at night. Unfortunately, certain types of the red tide can be harmful to other organisms, so it’s best to ask authorities before swimming in affected waters.
Comments