Lights Out: Surfers generate beautiful bioluminescent waves off the coast of San Diego by disturbing a bloom of warmwater phytoplankton Lingulodinium polyedrum, causing a chemical reaction which produces a flash of blue light.
Though red tide can be harmful in certain circumstances, this particular algal bloom has a low-level toxicity that is safe to swim in.
A few years back, we witnessed this when we went grunion hunting. (We released them, not to worry.) Still in my list of Top Ten Magical Moments.
