At midnight, all around was dark, but each crash of the waves at a famous surfing beach created an eerie blue flash - caught on camera by a photographer who had a camera ready to capture the strange phenomenon.
Steve Skinner visited the beach especially for the sight, caused by algae in the water at Swami's.
When the waves crash it causes the algae to give off a flash of blue light - called bioluminescence - as the millions of organisms are disturbed.
The amazing images were snapped at midnight by photographer Steve Skinner who visited the beach especially for the sight
Part of the sea was illuminated a stunning shade of blue due to a natural phenonemon called algae bloom
When the waves crash it causes the algae to give
off a flash of blue light - called bioluminescence - as the millions of
organisms are disturbed
GLOW WITH THE FLOW: THE CHEMISTRY THAT MAKES THE SEA GLOW BLUE AT NIGHT
The glow - called 'bioluminescence' - occurs when a micro-organism in the water
is disturbed by oxygen.
Although a rare sight on a shoreline, the phenomenon is more commonly seen at sea in the wake of ships that stir up the oxygen in the sea, which causes the bioluminescent bacteria to glow.
Many undersea organisms ‘glow’, especially creatures that live at depths where light from the surface is less likely to penetrate.
The night-time glow is a side-effect of blooming red algae, known as red tide, which can turn entire beaches scarlet and murky during the day.
Although a rare sight on a shoreline, the phenomenon is more commonly seen at sea in the wake of ships that stir up the oxygen in the sea, which causes the bioluminescent bacteria to glow.
Many undersea organisms ‘glow’, especially creatures that live at depths where light from the surface is less likely to penetrate.
The night-time glow is a side-effect of blooming red algae, known as red tide, which can turn entire beaches scarlet and murky during the day.
Meanwhile, during the day the water discolouration, otherwise known as red tide, can cause the water to turn a horrible reddish-brown colour.
The stretch of water, which is part of the Pacific Ocean, was illuminated for a week before the glow diminished.
Steve, 43, from Carlsbad, California, said: ‘It is a popular phenomenon and people go see it especially whenever it happens.
‘I had planned to visit the beach to specifically shoot these type of images and I was taking pictures for about an hour. The red tide was pretty strong and the effect could have been seen from any of our local beaches.’
Steve, who runs a website development business, added: ‘I was really pleased with the shots and in beach terminology, I was 'totally stoked'.
‘I've seen this before but never this bright. Plus the last time the glow was more of a dim green color and this time it was absolutely mesmerising.
‘As I live near the coast I do photography at the beach all the time, but these shots are by far my most unique and strange.’
Steve, 43, from Carlsbad, California, said: ¿It is a popular phenomenon and people go see it especially whenever it happens.
