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.
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 Beaches to Experience Bioluminescent Phenomenon
Here is the list of the most beautiful and best Bioluminescent Beaches in the World. Do plan and visit some whenever you get time.
1. Puerto Mosquito, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Puerto Mosquito or Mosquito Bay is located on the southern shore of the island of Vieques. This magical bioluminescent bay is an amazing place to experience the brightest glowing neon blue light in the world. In fact, the Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay is a fascinating destination that also offers a lovely nightlife experience to its visitors.
Apart from this, visitors can also enjoy Kayaking and boating in the blue-green glow, and experience the splash of a paddle, or swirl of a hand that produces a magical glowing trail in the dark waters of the bay.
2. Sam Mun Tsai Beach, Hong Kong
Sam Mun Tsai beach of Hong Kong experiences a phenomenon known as the red tide which occurs when the water turns red due to a bloom of microorganisms. This glittering show has been linked to bioluminescence which sometimes has crimson water during the day and glowing blue water at night to offer the all-time best experience to its visitors.
Here, you can enjoy many water sports activities but unfortunately, certain types of red tide can be harmful to other organisms, so it is best for you to ask authorities before swimming in affected waters.
3. Mudhdhoo Island
Mudhdhoo, the island is located in the Baa Atoll, near the Dusit Thani Maldives, which is a Dusit Thani Group resort hotel. It is a fantastic destination that boasts many mysterious and unknown creatures. Also, it is believed that there are several marine animals that are capable of performing light due to which the Mudhdhoo Beach lights up the sea’s shorelines in the most magical manner.
In fact, it is altogether an otherworldly occurrence for which people travel from around the world. Furthermore, visitors can also have an extraordinary taste for life can enjoy world-class restaurants with award-winning chefs on the island.
4. San Juan Island, Washington, U.S.
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago of more than 170 islands located in the U.S. state of Washington. Known for its majestic landscapes, wildlife, Horseshoe-shaped Orcas Island, Moran State Park’s old-growth forest, and Mt. Constitution, it is a perfect tourist destination to relax and enjoy with your loved ones.
It offers visitors can enjoy world-class whale watching, kayaking, biking, hiking, farm-to-table dining, at the shore the glowing seashore.
5. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is famed for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. This region is also a popular destination for scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking, particularly in mountainous Cát Bà National Park, boat tours and sea kayak expeditions that offers visitors really a marvelous experience.
Also, this site has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a very popular tourist destination and a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border.
6. Pandangbai Port, Bali
Padangbai is one of the most beautiful bioluminescent beaches locations on Earth. It is a small port town located in the majestic Indonesian city of Bali. Also, it is surrounded by beautiful hills, long beaches, colorful and other beautiful surroundings with stunning underwater scenery that makes it a must-see attraction in Bali. Moreover, it is a bustling port that offers opportunities for good diving and snorkeling in East Bali.
7. Torrey Pines Beach, San Diego, CA
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of the wildest stretches of land in Southern California. Located within the area of San Diego, it encompasses numerous natural wonders such as the maritime chaparral, the rare Torrey pine, miles of unspoiled beaches, and a lagoon.
It is a fantastic destination, visited by travelers from all over the world and boasts many exciting things for its visitors so that they can relax and enjoy in a most peaceful manner. Ranging from a romantic walk, a peaceful trail, or exercise in a clean, beautiful environment, it is a destination that turns dreams into reality.
8. Mission Bay
Mission Bay is a waterfront haven located in Auckland. Built around the idyllic, pohutukawa-lined beach, Mission Bay is a destination like no other. From the iconic fountain to dining with views of Rangitoto and the Waitemata Harbour, it truly is the bustling, vibrant heart of Auckland’s Eastern Bays.
It welcomes guests with open arms from each and every corner of the world and hosts a variety of exciting experiences for its visitors. Here, travelers can enjoy the parks, seashores or simply relax and explore the surroundings.
9. Toyama Bay, Japan
Toyama Bay, famous for its firefly squids has thousands of photophores on their bodies which emit blue light with its unique organ and light up the entire area. During the months of March to May, millions of firefly squids are brought to the surface by large waves and creates a big light show of millions of firefly squids glowing and lighting up the bay.
Tourists from all over the world come to experience this magical phenomenon. It is worth mentioning that boats at Toyama Bay leave early morning around 3 am to catch it in time for when the fishermen pull in their nets as the squids flow in blue. The lights flash on and off creating a beautiful light show.
10. Reethi Beach, Maldives
Fonimagoodhoo, often called Reethi Beach is a beautiful bioluminescent island in the Baa Atoll in the Maldives. Famed for its majestic surroundings, Reethi Beach is one of the most eco-friendly, Maldivian style, 4-star deluxe island resorts situated in Baa Atoll, the Maldives. It offers a fantastic experience to its visitors as it is adorned with a beautiful location on the island with a turquoise lagoon, picturesque, white-sand beaches, and an on-site reef.
Also, there are several resorts on this beach where you can relax with your partner, and offers a 24-hour restaurant and bar facility, diving school, and water sports rentals including kayaks, snorkels, and windsurfing gear, and much more.
11. Waitomo, 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 as they go.
Also, the unique bioluminescent creatures streak light onto the seemingly dripping stalactites to transform the cave ceiling into a twinkling nighttime sky making it a wonderful destination for tourists.
12. Gippsland Lakes
Gippsland Lakes is the largest network of inland waterways in Australia. Famed for its aquatic adventures and ardent relaxing destinations, it covers an area of about 354 acres and boasts many attractions for visitors. Ranging from Boat, sail, swim, canoe, kayak, fisheries, it has all for its visitors to relax and enjoy perfectly the tranquility of Gippsland lakes.
Also, it provides a major hub for tourism, especially for recreational and boating enthusiasts. Apart from this, it also supports numerous species of wildlife with over 400 indigenous flora species and 300 native fauna species.
13. Glistening Waters, Jamaica
Also known as Luminous Lagoon, Glistening Waters is one of the most magical places on Earth that boasts an impressive volume of bioluminescent microorganisms in it, producing a green glow effect all around.
Here, visitors can experience on pitch-black, moonless nights, the horizon line between the glittery organisms and the starry sky which seems to fade, blanketing the entire area in an incredible cosmic glow.
14.Manasquan Beach, NJ
Manasquan Beach is a popular tourist destination located along the Jersey Shore. It is a fun-loving destination for surfers and swimmers and kids to enjoy in the downtown area. This Bioluminescent Beach offers a fantastic glimpse of nature’s bioluminescent phenomenon during the moonless and dark night producing eerie glowing red and blue effects.
Visitors can best experience this during the summer months i.e. from July to September. Apart from this, it also boasts many shopping malls and restaurants, all within walking distance from the beach.
15. Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, Florida
Mosquito Lagoon is known as the “redfish capital of the world,”. It is the most unique place that offers majestic bioluminescent views to its visitors. Unlike the vast majority of redfish, most of Mosquito Lagoon’s redfish never leave the shallow waters of the lagoon.
This really makes it a fantastic destination to visit, not because it has more or bigger redfish than anywhere else, but because of its year-round lagoon population. In fact, This the only place in the world where visitors can stalk and sights cast to adult redfish in the 30- to 50-inch range on clear flats.
Read More, Rare Phenomenal but Beautiful places in the World to Visit
If you are planning to visit a beautiful place with a special natural phenomenon the above list would be helpful. Choose your destination and enjoy bioluminescent at amazing beaches. All of these Bioluminescent Beaches in the World are worth visiting once.
Featured Image Source: Australian Geographic
