Photo: Patrick Coyne

Recently, an outbreak of red tide off Newport Beach, California discolored the Pacific waters during daylight and then, once the sun had set, put on an amazing show of bioluminescence which turned the ocean waves a vivid neon blue. Not all red tide is bioluminescent, but when the conditions are right the phytoplankton bloom which makes up the tides can explode into a blue light when stirred by the action of the waves. A trio of photographers captured the most recent display. To see more check out their Instagram.

Red tides and blue waves have been occurring from time to time on the California coast for a number of years. Here is a video from San Diego in 2014.

Bioluminescent waves in San Diego, Red Tide Blue Waves