Bioluminescent plankton! Wow!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Okay, so I’d seen some luminescent sparkles in waters before, off the coast of Malaysia, many years ago. It lay on the ocean floor, and the eerie glow could be clearly seen in the shallow very clear waters we were walking through. The Swiss guy, who was with us, seemed to keep trying to tell us it was flowers? What? We went so far as scooping some up and carrying it off to under a light, only to discover it was unremarkable looking sand. What?

It was a couple if days before someone explained it was phosphorus something or other, and not that uncommon. It was a couple of days later before we realized that’s probably what the Swiss guy was trying to tell us through a very thick accent. Doh! All up it was a pretty awesome experience, that added to our adventure and made a great travel story.

Last week however, I found myself on a small underdeveloped island off the coast of Cambodia. The kind of place with no ground transport, come in by slow boat, walk everywhere else. Everything was solar powered, refrigeration consisted of the ice coming in on the daily slow boat. The beach was spectacular and all but deserted, it was a hidden gem and that was the draw for us. And it did not disappoint!

On our second night we were told the beach had bioluminescent plankton. Of course I was imagining what I’d once experienced years before. I could not have been more surprised!

First you must understand that when the sunsets a truly profound darkness falls in such a place. There is no ambient light whatsoever. Stars dazzle such that it is difficult to put into words. So we wander down to the beach, only us, to check it out.

It was spectacular. Any disturbing of the water, moving your arm, lifting your feet, sends out luminess sparks of an eerie green colour. It was like sparks flying from your fingers and toes. Every movement produced more sparkles. I felt like Tinkerbell from the opening Disney sequence. With a wave of my arm sparkling fireworks exploded.

We were giggling and laughing and squealing with delight. I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered anything quite so remarkable and surprising before in my life! We were on our island paradise for 8 days and I was in the ocean every night! Each time completely enchanted anew!

Of course it takes tons of special equipment to photograph so all I can share is how cool it was. I’ve looked up photos but none really reflect what we experienced though some are close.

It was just such a surprise and was mentioned to us so casually, like it was no big thing! (Sadly it seems the area, within five years, will have an airport and numerous high rise resorts. The ambient light may negate the effect I am told. Too sad for words, if true.)

All to say, should you ever, ever get the opportunity to experience this, do not pass it by, it is something truly not to be missed!

We left that island two days ago and I still can’t stop thinking about it!

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I experienced this once late at night on Padre Island (Corpus Christi, Texas). I don’t think it was as spectacular as your experience, but it was still magical. We ran in and out of the water for over an hour, just marveling at the beauty and strangeness of it.

Thank you for posting – I enjoy hearing when people get excited by the natural wonders of our world. :slight_smile:

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I enjoyed this light show in the Caribbean.

Our small boat lost power, and we were stuck. Fortunately, the light show kept us entertained until help arrived.

We would just move our hands in the water and there was the light show!

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I’ve done a few night dives when phosphorescent plankton is in the water, it’s completely mesmerizing; every move leaves a trail of light, Tinkerbell style as elbows put it.

Picture swimming upside down, with the torchlight out, floating in darkness with the full moon dancing on the waves “bellow” and the stars swirling around you. It feels like traveling across the universe.

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Mind sharing the name of this hidden gem?:slight_smile: Currently planning a trip to SE Asia.

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I’ve been lucky to do a few dives, swims, and canoe paddles in such places. And a fair number more of just walks on the beaches.

It IS Avatar/Tinkerbell magic indeed.

Its the kind of thing that if you get that “wonder of the universe” feeling inside you, you might have to fight back the tears.

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Sweet, I’ve heard of this before but never seen it. I’ve been told one can see it around Puerto Rico and I’m going there in a month so I’m looking forward to it.

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My daughter did this about a year ago in Puerto Rico. They have lagoons which have a much higher concentration than in the ocean. I’ll try to ask her where exactly it was. She said you could see fish because as they moved through the water there was a glow. She spent time with local college students so the area may not be very developed for tourists, and may be tough to get to.

Also, make sure you try to get to “Dirty Beach.” Supposedly it is called this to keep the tourists away. She said it was the most beautiful beach she has ever been to and it was practically empty. I saw pictures… trust me on this one. It is actually part of a national park I think on the far southwest end of the island… there is also a lighthouse nearby.

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Thanks for the tips. I’ve never been to Puerto Rico before. I had never heard of the bioluminescent stuff before either until a week or so ago. There might be too much for me to do in the 4 days I’ll be there.

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It’s called Ko Rong Samloem, the baby sister of Ko Rong. It’s accessable, by slow boat from Sihanoukvilke, ask at the Dive Shop. (There’s a couple, it’s the one beside a bar called Monkey Republic.) Be prepared, Sihanoukville is a scene, not a place I’d spend much time, but it’s busy and happening with tons of people casinos and bars! We only stayed one night, just long enough to arrange transport to the island.

I don’t dive but I snorkel and I’ve learned that where divers go the waters are amazing and the oceans and beaches often pristine. Other parts of this same island are more developed with higher end resorts and fancier accommodations. But on the Sunset Beach side it is very Robinson Crusoe like. We usually had the entire beach to ourselves, stayed in truly crude little grass shack bungalows for $20 US a night with a view of the sea. Slept every night with the doors of the bungalow wide open to enjoy the view from our bed, under our mosquito net. It was heaven!

We just turned up on the beach with our fingers crossed we’d find rooms, and were very fortunate to find a spot, during high season, at Robinson Bungalows. But learned they actually have a website and you can book online. But Internet is only text and very dodgy so it might take a few days back and forth to get through!

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, the accommodations are indeed basic, but if you can get there I say go! By all accounts the five year plan, (an airport, several high rise, high end resorts) will forever change this idyllic spot! For better or worse depends entirely on your perspective.

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Thank you, it sounds amazing!

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There’s a lagoon in Jamaica that’s famous for its bioluminescence that our dive group swam in twenty odd years ago. It was truly amazing, the bow wave in front of you would spring to light and everything you touched, each motion you made illuminated around you for a foot or so. The only drawback was that we’d just visited another lagoon with crocodiles earlier that evening so I was constantly on the lookout for something approaching me that also gave off light.

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The place I went to on Puerto Rico was very heavily populated and quite touristy. There might be more than one lagoon though. We went in by kayak on a tour.

Check the weather and moon phase before you make plans. If its more than a quarter moon, don’t bother unless there is a heavy cloud layer. We had a bit too much moonlight in the lagoon to really appreciate the luminescence but could still see it. Where it really wowed us was in the mangroves on the way to the lagoon. The mangroves blocked the moon and the lights were spectacular. I don’t think you can bank on being able to see it in the mangroves though. It depends on the tides (so they said).