BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – With the summer months upon us, Central Florida can expect to see some of its waterways glowing at night.
The phenomenon is called “bioluminescence,” and in this case, it happens thanks to a type of plankton called a dinoflagellate.
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According to “Jungle Jay,” a tour guide with BK Adventure along Florida’s east coast, these plankton create the glowing lights via a chemical reaction.
“The phytoplankton release it (photoproteins) into the water and mixes with the element that’s present in the water (i.e. oxygen), and that’s what causes the chemical reaction for it to light up,” he told News 6. “It’s a very fast process.”
These dinoflagellates tend to congregate more in the summer, with the best times of the year to see them being on dark nights between June and September.
And while the phenomenon can be spotted in many parts of the state, Jungle Jay told News 6 that some locations work better than others.
“I’ve heard of it happening out on the coast, out near the ocean, but it happens more frequently in the Indian River Lagoon system in our area,” he said. “That lagoon system is a calm, slow-moving body of water that’s on average about 4 feet deep, so sunlight can penetrate all the way up and down the water column.”
For the best results, Jungle Jay explained, it’s a good idea to head out to these areas around the time of a new moon, since there will be less moonlight to obscure the view.
On the flip side, being closer to a full moon may mean more moonlight, making it tougher to watch the bioluminescence in action.
For those who want to take a look for themselves, BK Adventure offers bioluminescence tours to help prospective onlookers get a better glimpse during this time.
“If you’re in Cocoa, you could book a tour with us, and we’ll get you out to a spot called Kiwanis Island,” Jungle Jay told News 6. “Now, that’s one of our tour spots, and that’s usually pretty good.”
But for those who miss the opportunity this year, Jungle Jay assures them that it’s not the only time that bioluminescence will happen.
In fact, the phenomenon is also brought about by another type of plankton called the comb jellyfish, which appears in the winter months.
“They’re spectacular because you cant interact with those guys. You can actually hold the bioluminescence in your hand, whereas the dinoflagellates, you can’t hold that in your hand. Once they light up once, they’re done,” Jungle Jay said.
Regardless, you can check out the best dates to go look for yourself or book a tour online at BK Adventure’s website here.