This is not a faint phenomenon.
Bright neon-blue ocean currents are being seen off the coast of California in a stunning display of bioluminescence.
The amazing act of nature, where tiny algae glow in the night water so vividly it looks computer-generated, was observed by a Los Angeles photographer who has been following the electric-looking waves for years.
“This was by far … the brightest bioluminescence I’ve ever seen,” water adventurer Patrick Coyne captured an Instagram video of his boat speeding through light water after sunset last week.
Just two days ago, Coyne initially thought it was the best it could be, but his most recent experiences at Marina Del Rey “took it to the next level.”
“Even the smallest movements lit up like I’d never seen before, and they were along the coast.”
What makes the thrill of catching bioluminescent waters even more exciting is that their visibility is historically difficult to predict – as is their duration.
In San Diego, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography — which posted a video of the dolphins streaming through the startling pods — reports that “previous events have lasted anywhere from a week to a month or more.”
They are brought in by what experts call a red tide of swarms of single-celled marine plankton called dinoflagellates.
They’re also known for causing a lot of bad breath, the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Each cell contains a little sunscreen that gives it color,” according to the institution. “On sunny days, the organisms swim to the surface, where they concentrate resulting in intensified coloration.”
The best time to see the red tide, even though the nighttime afterglow is gone, is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., as they swim up for more light and create a surface layer, according to the Scripps Biological Oceanographer , Peter Franks.
Visit California also notes that bioluminescence is most popular during the spring and summer, “especially during years with a combination of good rains and warm weather.”
Even if getting to the Golden State is out of reach, don’t worry. Bioluminescence occurs all over the globe and has been seen as close as the summer destinations of Manasquan and Long Beach Island in NJ.
Elsewhere, the Caribbean nation of Jamaica, Japan, Taiwan and Puerto Rico are other hotspots for the glitz of life, according to thetravel.com.
And, people are willing to travel this distance to catch these waves.
Speaking to Fox News, a Vrbo representative said the prospect of seeing bioluminescence is drawing people to travel to areas in Florida like Vero Beach to capture one of the planet’s “most awe-inspiring natural wonders.”
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Image Source : nypost.com