Mother Nature is incredible, constantly going out of her way to captivate us with her beauty. From the shimmering carpet of colours that the Aurora Borealis is famous for in the Northern Hemisphere to our very own glistening blue waters in Hermanus.
On Tuesday, October 12, Southern Right Charters was lucky enough to spot one of nature’s most incredible phenomena – the magnificent blue glows of bioluminescence, something that can only be found in the ocean.
Unfortunately, this glow only lasts for a few days before it disappears, but when you spot it, make sure you have your camera ready. That’s exactly what skippers in Hermanus did, taking to Facebook to share this beauty.
Heading out in the early hours of the morning to enjoy the calm waters, the crew managed to get a few incredible snaps.
“A red tide has formed in the bay- in the daytime, it can be easily seen from shore, at night – this red tide contains bioluminescence, which makes for stunning light displays on the breaking waves or wake of boats,” read the Facebook post.
What is Bioluminescence?
Bioluminescence is a light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism, says National Geographic. It’s a form of chemiluminescence that usually occurs in marine vertebrates and invertebrates and is a complicated term that simply refers to the production of light. Basically, it happens when a particular living organism gives off light due to a disturbance due to water movement, which can be anything from moving boats to waves.
As you can guess, it only occurs in the ocean and is more visible when the sun is not up.
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Pictures: Southern Right Charters