There are only five ecosystems in the world where the concentration
of these planktons is high enough to be considered bioluminescent bays,
and Puerto Rico is home to three of them. This is a surreal magical experience you really have to cross off your bucket list!
These rare ecosystems happen when microscopic, single-celled
organisms called dinoflagellates grow in quantities big enough to
produce a “glow-in-the-dark” effect when they are stimulated by
movement. So, when you paddle or splash the water, these organisms light
up in a neon blue-green color, and so does everything they come in
contact with, giving a star-like reflection to the water.
Dinoflagellates can be found throughout the ocean; however, it is
very rare for them to be live in concentrations high enough to be
noticeable. To put this in perspective, there must be thousands and
thousands of these single-celled organisms to make a gallon of water
light up.
However, I have to warn you many pictures you see are photoshoped, since you'll need to "disturb" the micro animals to have some glow, so it's impossible to see it if you're not on the water or if you don't have good waves. I would suggest a kayak experience, since the paddle will show all the tiny lights in the ocean :)
So, as I said, there are 3 in this country: The Mosquito Bay (Vieques), recognized for being the brightest bio bay in the world, ranging from an average of 1,000,000 to 2,100,000 dinoflagellates per gallon of
water. The lack of light pollution surrounding the Natural Reserve of
Mosquito Bay and the mangrove swamps that feed the plankton make this
natural spectacle one of Puerto Rico’s true wonders. Then you have Laguna Grande in Fajardo, the closest to San Juan (so probably the easiest to visit) and La Parguera, in Lajas ( in southwestern corner of Puerto Rico) is the only one where motor boats
can come in and out. Some guided tours provide you with equipment so
that you can dive in and swim after dark. You can also take a
glass-bottom boat ride and spend the night contemplating the organisms
that make the bay glow.
How to visit:
You can take a fly or a ferry to every bay from San Juan.
First of all, as least light there is, the better. And don't forget the mosquito repelent!
Tides and water temperatures affect the brightness of
the bays as well. You should call a day or two in advance to confirm
that the brightness of the bay has been above 30% in the days prior to
your tour.
You can go your own, simply walking on the beach, or buy a tour. The best tours for me are the ones that could envolve kayak:
Happy journeys in Puerto Rico!
