Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico

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Have you guys heard of the Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico? This particular ecological nature is not just your ordinary bay. It is considered a very special tourist attraction in Vieques, Puerto Rico for its natural, amazing ecological feature.

The Bioluminescent Bay or Biobay for short is definitely a wonder in nature and taking a dip in it during moonless nights would give you the feeling that you’re like “bathing amongst the stars.”

This attraction caught my attention when I saw a photo on one of the travel catalogues we have at home. It was a really cool sight and just seeing the pictures made me want to visit.

Here are some pictures taken from tourists taking a dip at the Bioluminescent Bay:

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This bay is very special because it is concentrated with a certain living organism called Pyrodinium bahamense dinoflagellates. It is said that the bioluminescent bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico contains around 700,000 of this light emitting organism per gallon of water. (Now that’s population bomb.)

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These one-celled microorganisms, once disturbed, get nervous and emit a certain substance that causes their bodies to radiate like crazy. They are said to measure around 0.002 of an inch and once their tiny bodies burst light, it sorts of gives the bay a glowing, bright-green, twinkling appearance against the dark, moonless night.

For most tourists, the Biobay is where the shooting stars fall at night.

I sort of created an imaginary romantic scene on this bay inside my head.

This bay is a must see. Added on my list of travel destinations, page 112... Oh no, make that 113.

Aside from this spectacular bay, there's also a noted event of bioluminescent red tide on 2005 at Carlsbad, California, and here's a taken picture of the crashing glowing waves filled with billions of dinoflagellates.

Amazing isn't it?

Sources: here and here