Imagine standing on the beach at night, watching the waves crash on the sand, illuminating a bright blue glowing light. Each time the (water/wave) turns over and causes friction with the tides beneath, it appears as if a dancing glow-stick were hovering on the shore.  Don’t be mistaken, you’re not at a rave. This is just a phenomenon of nature.

The Red Tide is caused by something called Lingulodinium polyedrum.  Haha, good luck trying to pronounce that one! It’s almost as challenging as trying to say medical terms.  Anywhoo, Lingulodinium polyedrum is a bioluminescent phytoplankton.  These microbes are not harmful or dangerous, they’re simply growing in abundance and when friction is occurring, the stress (in scientific terms), causes them to produce a neon blue.  

By day, these microorganisms make the waters look murky and uninviting, bringing a red-ish, brown color to the ocean tides.  Hence the name, Red Tide. Not to worry, it won’t hurt you, it just looks strange.  Stranger than a glowing extra-terrestrial blue at night? I think not.  But somehow the evenings seem more inviting during the Red Tide season.  Besides surfing under a full moon, I imagine riding magical neon waves is the best it gets.  

The phenomenal Red Tide occurs every few years and can be seen at the Coronado beaches.  It is unknown when these amazing microscopic algae will shine their lights on the Pacific beaches, but definitely keep your radar on.  This is seriously worth seeing.