The Magic of Bioluminescence: Where to See Nature’s Glow

When you think of bioluminescence, what is the first image that pops into your mind? Fireflies? What about creatures in the deep ocean? You may be surprised to learn the bioluminescent World is much more diverse than that. Bioluminescence crosses into the kingdom of the fungi. We’ll keep this article to otherworldly places you can visit and see bioluminescence in action.

What Causes Bioluminescence?

Photo byBilly HuynhonUnsplash

Bioluminescence is simply a chemical reaction. It’s a non-heat light production commonly caused by a substance called luciferin. In most living organisms with luciferin, this light is emitted in self-defense. In other animals, such as fireflies, this light attracts a mate. This same chemical is activated when water is disturbed and jostles the marine plankton called dinoflagellates. This causes the dreamy blue color in the dark in bioluminescent water. Let’s find out where we can see a place like this.

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Rent a kayak at night and paddle through a spectacular blue light show. While the dinoflagellate plankton is in the waters here all year round, they have peak blooms at certain times of the year. Of Course, Cocoa Beach is famous in its own right for its proximity to Cape Canaveral and world-class surfing. The end of Spring into Early Fall is the best chance to see the bioluminescent plankton here in its entire splendor. You can take a guided tour on a see-through acrylic kayak or stand-up paddleboard for a truly memorable experience.

Manasquan Beach, New Jersey

This beach is a popular surfing spot by day and a beloved bioluminescent algae spot by night. The peak times of the year to see Mother Nature’s aquatic show here is during the summer months. Though not as large as Cocoa Beach, it’s still worth mentioning, as many people are surprised to learn about bioluminescent plankton this far North. Manasquan Beach is a marvel. If you live in North America, put it on your list for a road trip for a summer vacation.

San Juan Island, Washington

Washington State is breathtakingly beautiful anyway, but add a bioluminescent beach, and you’ve got a slice of heaven on Earth. The warm South Pacific currents and the cold Arctic make for an ecosystem teeming with life. This makes the perfect conditions for bioluminescent to flourish, with its peak bloom season in the summer months. Tours on land and sea are available to view this phenomenon.

Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this location is the “brightest bioluminescent beach” in the World. Swimming or kayaking here alone at night is prohibited, but you can book a tour with a certified guide. A guided tour would be better anyway since you’ll have a better chance of seeing marine wildlife safely. Dolphins, manatees, and turtles have been known to frequent this area.

Luminous Lagoon, Jamaica

As the name suggests, this beach will dazzle you with its glow. Unlike Mosquito Bay, you can swim at this beach at night or even go snorkeling if you choose. Imagine being immersed in glittery water while fish curiously swim around you. You can, of course, take a guided tour here if you so desire. Sounds dreamy!

Gippsland Lakes, Australia

This location is particularly unusual because it wasn’t always home to bioluminescent plankton. Scientists are still studying the biome of this lake system, and there’s a lot they still don’t know about it. It was an ordinary tidal lake system until 2006 and 2007 when brush fires ravaged the area. Torrential rains followed the fires, and ever since these events, the plankton of this lake glow at night during the Summer months. The Gippsland Lake system, lagoons, and channels are otherwise very clear, clean, and suitable for water activities.

Toyama Bay, Japan

This body of water is bioluminescent for a different reason other than plankton. Toyama Bay is home to the tiny firefly squid, and they congregate here in large numbers during the summer months for breeding. At only three inches long, the squid comes into the bay by the thousands and is said to look like Christmas lights that are underwater. Fishermen and tourists alike flock to this area to take in this spectacle. The Japanese catch these squid since they are considered a delicacy. You can take a tour on a fishing charter boat to witness this fantastic occurrence.

Lake McLaren, New Zealand

There are several places in New Zealand to see bioluminescence up close, but this is probably one of the most accessible. This location has cave-dwelling glow worms that dwell in grottos along the edge of this lake. A kayak can navigate a cave tunnel system, and the cave ceiling features thousands of glow worms. These creatures use their bioluminescence to attract and catch their insect prey. Guided kayak tours are available to see these remarkable animals.

Final Thoughts

These eight locations are just a sampling of places here on Earth where you can see bioluminescence up close and personal. You don’t need a deep-sea submarine or an excavator to dig up subterranean glowing fungus. It seems like something out of a dream come true, and a location to magic may be closer to you than you might think.

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Article originally written by Stephanie Grant