Puerto rico glowing water: La Parguera Bioluminescent Bay | Discover Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s Bioluminescent Bays Are Brighter Than Ever | Travel
Jennifer Nalewicki
Travel Correspondent
Mark Martin Bras was a child the first time he saw Puerto Rico’s famous bioluminescent bays. His father and uncle took him one evening to Mosquito Bay, and he was mesmerized by the electric-blue glow of the water beneath the pitch-black night sky.
“I remember my father scooping some water into a bucket and explaining to me, scientifically, what was going on,” he says. “I was surprised to learn that living organisms were the ones causing the water to glow.”
That educational moment had a profound effect on the then eight-year-old, who was born and raised on the island. Now 51, Bras has built a career out of studying Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays, and currently serves as a field researcher and director of community relations for the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust (VCHT), a nonprofit that strives to “foster, protect, and conserve the environmental, archaeological, and cultural resources of Vieques,” a 52-square-mile island off of Puerto Rico’s eastern coast.
Mark Martin Bras sits in front of a mural at the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, where he serves as director of community relations.
Leigh Ann Henion/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Bras describes seeing the bioluminescent bays as “magical,” not only in his own personal experience but also for the many travelers who have visited the island. While marine bioluminescence isn’t specific to Puerto Rico, since there are many species of oceanic creatures with the ability to glow (examples include certain types of jellyfish and even some sharks), Puerto Rico’s bays are often considered some of the best in the world for witnessing the natural wonder. Just five ecosystems on the planet have enough of these planktons to truly qualify as bioluminescent bays, and three of them are on the island. Not only that, but many of these glowing species reside in the darkest depths of the oceans in areas difficult or impossible for humans to reach, whereas in Puerto Rico people can experience this phenomenon from a boat or even from the shoreline.
In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized Vieques’ Mosquito Bay (also known as Puerto Mosquito), on the island’s southern shore, as the “brightest bioluminescent bay” in the world, estimating, in 2006, 700,000 microscopic organisms occurring in every gallon of water. Two other Puerto Rican bays known for their bioluminescence are Lagunda Grande, on the main island’s eastern tip, and La Parguera, on its southwestern edge. At both locations visitors can experience the waters by boat, however, at La Parguera, swimming tours are also available.
So, what exactly causes Puerto Rico’s bays to transform into a disco come nightfall? The answer lies in the form of tiny single-celled organisms called Pyrodinium bahamense, or “whirling fire of the Bahamas,” which are luminescent dinoflagellates that reside in the Caribbean Sea and in other bodies of water around the world. These phytoplankton emit a bluish-green glow whenever they’re disturbed, be it from the rocking of a wave to the oar of a boat skimming the water’s surface.
A chemical reaction happens within the organism whenever a molecule called luciferin reacts to oxygen, resulting in a surge of energy that produces a bright glow. Multiply that by millions of dinoflagellates floating around in the same bay and the result is a naturally occurring light show that arguably rivals Times Square.
It also helps that Puerto Rico is home to a unique ecosystem that is ideal for these organisms to survive.
In Puerto Rico, people can experience bioluminescence from a boat or even from the shoreline.
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“The key to the island’s coastal bays is that they have shallow and narrow entrances that help trap these organisms into a paradise-like situation,” Bras says. “The bays provide good biodiversity combined with clear water with very little contamination, which is good for these organisms’ survival since they’re photosynthetic and need sunlight to thrive.”
Unfortunately, this perfect habitat took a major hit in 2017 when Hurricane Maria pummeled the island, leaving many people, including Bras, concerned about whether or not the bioluminescent bays would ever return to their former glory.
In its wake, the hurricane destroyed the vast majority of mangrove forests that flank Mosquito Bay and other parts of Puerto Rico’s coastline. These forests provide much-needed nutrients for the organisms along with protection against erosion that could eventually lead to them washing out to sea. After the hurricane, it was almost like someone had flipped a switch, turning the bays as dark as the night sky, according to multiple reports, including one from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
“Not only did [Mosquito Bay] come back about eight months after the hurricane, but we’ve also noticed a steady increase in the abundance of the organisms, setting several records including the highest record set last year,” Bras says. “We also compared our numbers to what’s been recorded by other bioluminescent bays, and they’re also seeing increases.”
The VCHT has played an integral role in bringing Mosquito Bay back to its original state by forming a science-based reforestation initiative called the Mangrove Project, which has created nurseries on Vieques to grow four different species of mangroves to help replace the trees that were lost.
The trust estimates that more than 3,000 trees will be needed to reforest the bay and these plantings will help fill in areas of land that couldn’t recover naturally on their own.
“With this project, we’ve been exchanging information with representatives from other bays and people studying climate change at both the national and international levels about things like adaptation techniques,” Bras says. “We’re using that kind of capacity building to build the nursery and the production of mangroves in case another natural disaster happens in the future.”
Bras says that the long-term project is community-based, with locals participating by planting trees and spreading awareness.
“We started small but now the project has grown to two nurseries with thousands of trees,” he says.
Numerous outfitters offer kayak and boat tours of Mosquito Bay, Laguna Grande and La Parguera.
Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images
One of the best ways to experience Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays is to see them from the water’s surface.
Numerous outfitters, from Kayaking Puerto Rico to Puerto Rico Bay Tours offer kayak and boat tours of Mosquito Bay as well as Laguna Grande and La Parguera. It’s possible to see the bays aglow year round, however the absolute best time is during the dry months between December and mid-April when rain is less likely. Other variables can also affect how well the conditions are to see the bays, including moon phases, water temperature, salinity and currents. Most outfitters won’t go out unless the conditions are prime for viewing.
“There are many factors that affect how visible the bioluminescence may be on any given night, including cloud cover, which may help to block the moon and its light,” according to Abe’s Snorkeling and Biobay Tours, a Vieques-based outfitter.
Bras, in a way, gets transported right back to his first encounter as an eight-year-old each time he experiences the spectacle.
“One of the beautiful things about the bioluminescent bays is that when people of all ages see it they’re humbled down to that pure happy magical moment of nature,” he says.
“In this world there are so many things that are hard to take, so it’s nice that this natural wonder can have a child-like impact on people.”
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Glow in the Dark Waves: The Bioluminescent Bays of Puerto Rico
There are certain natural phenomenon that appear to be the result of magic. The northern lights, which are vibrant flashes of green light that light up the Earth’s northern-most skies every winter, and Yosemite National Park’s annual firefall, during which the setting sun gives Horsetail Fall the appearance of an active lava flow are two prime examples of natural phenomenon that are beautiful to the point of appearing surreal.
One of nature’s most stunning displays is undeniably bioluminescent waves. Bioluminescence is the result of microscopic lifeforms that glow when they are tossed about by crashing waves. Puerto Rico is home to some of the world’s most stunning bioluminescent bays.
La Parguera offers visitors the chance to swim in Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent waters. Many bioluminescent waters are off limits to swimmers because chemicals from sunscreen and insect repellent can devastate the bioluminescent lifeforms. Because La Parguera is a vast, open bay, the changing tides regularly recycle the water and flush out any potential irritants. Conservationists urge visitors to be mindful of how any perfumes, deodorants, or other chemical substances that visitors apply to their bodies may impact La Parguera’s delicate ecosystem.
Mosquito Bay—located on the island of Vieques—was once hailed as the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay by “The Guinness Book of World Records”. Mosquito Bay’s luminous blue waters put on quite a show.
In 2017, Hurricane Maria disrupted Mosquito Bay’s glowing waters. Scientists feared that Mosquito Bay would remain dark. Thankfully, Mosquito Bay eventually rebounded and shined brighter than ever before. Visitors who wish to visit Mosquito Bay are advised to spend the night, as it is impossible to get a clear view of the bioluminescent waves when the sun is up.
Laguna Grande—Puerto Rico’s third bioluminescent bay—can be explored by boat or kayak. Puerto Rico’s bioluminescence will shine the brightest if you plan your trip on the night of a new moon. There are only a handful of bioluminescent bays in the world, and Puerto Rico is home to three of them. If you have ever dreamed of gliding across glowing bioluminescent waters in a kayak under the stars, a trip to Puerto Rico is an absolute must. If you visit each of Puerto Rico’s luminous bays, you can experience different glow in the dark waters every night. Bioluminescent waves—much like the northern lights, or Yosemite’s firefall—are a magical sight that you must see with your own eyes to fully appreciate.
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10 bays with glowing water
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Since ancient times, the luminous water in the reservoirs has been shrouded in myths and legends. Hundreds of years ago, no one even knew about such a phenomenon as luminescence. In the 18th century, the secret of glowing water was finally revealed. It turned out that many marine life have the ability to glow in the dark.
For most of them, this illumination is a very common mechanism that allows them to survive in their habitat. In some microorganisms, such a glow occurs as a result of mechanical irritation. When a lot of such inhabitants accumulate near the shore, they form an absolutely incredible highlight of the water. We have collected 10 places where you can watch this fantastic installation, which cannot be compared to any other light show.
Light Lagoon, Trelawny, Jamaica
After visiting the Bob Marley Museum and the Rum Factory, Trelawney County is a must-see. This should be done strictly at night – when the entire beach is illuminated by luminous plankton.
Vaadhoo, Maldives
Unicellular dinoflagellates inhabit the waters near the island. The mechanical forces of the waves cause an electrical impulse in them, which triggers a bioluminescent reaction, as a result of which, at night, the water emits a bluish light.
Matsu, China
No tourist route passes through this place. However, during a trip to China, it is worth stopping by here to admire the incredible night landscapes of the coast after sunset, which are highlighted by single-celled organisms.
La Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico
There are three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. One of them is La Parguera.
The best time to visit is during the plankton breeding season when everything turns blue.
Mosquito Bay, Vieques, Puerto Rico
This is Puerto Rico’s most popular spot to watch the plankton glow. Local plankton is considered the brightest. The bay is usually accessed by kayak.
Laguna Grande, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
This is the third bay in Puerto Rico to be neon-lit. It is located in the northeast of the country.
Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, Australia
In addition to the picturesque scenery, the complex of lakes, swamps and lagoons in eastern Victoria is famous for its bioluminescence. Under the influence of mechanical and chemical stimuli, Noctiluca scintillans organisms, which live here in large numbers, “turn on” blue-blue illumination at night.
Carlsbad, California, USA
Neon blue waves can also be seen off the beaches of California.
In a certain period, phytoplankton accumulates near the coast. When the waves move, when the wave rolls on the shore, a glow is formed.
Seaport of Zeebrugge, Belgium
The port of Zeebrugge can boast of additional illumination. At night, plankton turns the water near the berths blue.
East Frisian Islands, Germany
At night, the water near the coast of the East Frisian Islands shimmers with a blue-green glow emitted by luminous plankton.
Material: dnpmag.com
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The mesmerizing glowing shores of Vaadhoo Island revealed their secret
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Since ancient times, water glowing in the dark with a blue light aroused fear and admiration in people at the same time.
Hundreds of years ago, no one even knew about such a phenomenon as luminescence, so such illumination was shrouded in many legends and myths. In the 18th century, the secret of glowing water was finally revealed.
It turned out that many sea creatures have the ability to glow in the dark. For most of them, such illumination is quite a common mechanism that allows them to survive in their habitat. In some microorganisms, such a glow occurs as a result of mechanical irritation. When a lot of such inhabitants accumulate near the shore, they form an absolutely incredible highlight of the water.
Plankton washed up on the beaches of Vaadhoo Island (Maldives) colors the shores with thousands of lights. The glow is explained by bioluminescence – chemical processes in the body of animals, in which the released energy is released in the form of light. Blue luminous waves seem to reflect the stars in the sky over the Maldives!
The most common blue glow in the Maldives occurs from around July to February, especially during the new moon, when the darkness of the sky helps microorganisms glow as brightly as possible.
Tourists are happy to buy tours to the Maldives to see the glowing beach.
Luminous unicellular dinoflagellates trigger their illumination from movement in the water column: an electrical impulse resulting from a mechanical stimulus opens ion channels, the work of which activates the “luminous” enzyme.
Scientists have finally solved the mystery of the glow of dinoflagellates – marine protozoa that make up a significant part of pelagic plankton. Some groups of these single-celled organisms, such as noctules, have the ability to bioluminesce. When gathered together, they can be seen even from space: the huge ocean surface emits a bluish light.
The glow of these protozoa can best be observed during the breeding season: the number of unicellular organisms becomes such that sea water resembles milk – though too bright blue. However, one should be careful when admiring dinoflagellates: many of them produce toxins dangerous for humans and animals, so when there are too many of them, it will be safer to enjoy the aesthetic pleasure of the glowing tide on the shore.