Electric blue waves wash California shore

  May 11, 2018    upendo

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Electric blue waves wash California shore

A dazzling neon blue tide in San Diego, California, has filled its beaches with electric aqua colours.

By day the plankton turn the water red, but come nightfall they radiate a blue glow when the algae are disturbed by movement, such as waves crashing on to the shoreline.

Bioluminescent light shows are not uncommon globally, but the last red tide in San Diego was in 2013 - and it's no less beautiful each time they grace the oceans.Bioluminescent light shows are not uncommon globally, but the last red tide in San Diego was in 2013 - and it's no less beautiful each time they grace the oceans.

Image copyrightERIK JEPSEN

Image captionThe red tide is bringing a beautiful light night-time display to San Diego beaches

Image copyrightJACK FUSCO PHOTOGRAPHY

Image caption"It's pretty incredible to see bioluminescence in person, but it can be surprisingly easy to miss," photographer Jack Fusco says. He captured this observer on a vantage point

Image copyrightBRYNDAN BEDEL

Image captionDistant city lights contrast with the algae riding the waves

Image copyrightANTONELLA WILBY

Image captionThese ghostly waves were shot by Antonella Wilby, a PhD student in San Diego who regularly posts marine life pictures on her Instagram @aaaaaantonella

Image copyrightJACK FUSCO PHOTOGRAPHY

Image captionJack Fusco captured the clarity of the aqua colours on the shoreline. "After your eyes have adjusted, you can start seeing different hues of blue and it's really mesmerising to watch," he says

Image copyrightANTONELLA WILBY

Image captionAntonella Wilby also caught this ghostly glow

Image copyrightJACK FUSCO PHOTOGRAPHY

Image captionBioluminescent algae weren't the only visitors creating a buzz in San Diego. Last night Jack Fusco turned his camera on the throngs of algae-spotters. "I feel very fortunate that I've been able to capture and share that with people," he says