Bioluminescent Waves Linger At Newport Beach, Orange County Shore

NEWPORT BEACH, CA —It's getting darker earlier, and when the sun falls you now have a chance to watch the return of stunning blue, bioluminescent waves in Southern California.

The waves started reappearing over the last three weeks from Newport Beach, up to Santa Monica, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Divison.

The algae bloom, known as a "red tide" is bioluminescent, and it glows when microorganisms are agitated by splashing or by waves.

The phenomenon is caused when large numbers of dinoflagellates form a bloom. Dinoflagellates use bioluminescence as a predator avoidance behavior, according to bioluminescence expert Michael Latz, a scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

Red tides are unpredictable, and they don't occur in Southern California every year.

"Pinpointing when and where this phenomenon takes place is difficult, however, it is quite a sight to see if you are able to witness it," the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division said on Instagram.

Newport Beach photographer Patrick_LA shared his videos over Instagram of the crashing bright blue waves. Brightest in early November, the bioluminescence is heading north toward Los Angeles.

."Even without a camera you could see the bright blue waves easily with your eyes," he wrote on Instagram. "This is a small compilation of the best waves I filmed that night."

Patrick_LA's favorite thing about watching Bioluminescence?

"When you barely start seeing the waves curl over and already see the water lighting up!" he said. "We checked for bio last night and it was there but not as bright. As I’ve mentioned before in previous posts, conditions can change from day to day so the best way to find out if it’s happening is to go check!"

Patch Asks: Have you seen the blue, bioluminescent waves?