To access the paradisiacal spot that is Vaadhoo, the easiest way is by seaplane, or if our main characteristic is rather adventure, the dhonis (traditional Maldivian boats) are the best option as they are equipped with an aesthetic that invites you to dream among the waters of the Indian Ocean. This is how the Maldives becomes the most impressive place in the world to enjoy the phenomenon, on a new moon night and through a nigh diving excursion where, after the aquatic immersion, the torches are extinguished, and the waters are agitated. While bioluminescence can be enjoyed in other places around the world – such as Laguna Grande, Puerto Rico Manialtepec Lagoon, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca and Toyama Bay, Japan to name a few – there are few landscapes where the climatology allows it to occur in such a natural and constant way as in Vaadhoo. The result: A giant lantern, where blue lights dance on the shore of the beach, in the footsteps in the sand, in the waves surfed by surfers and travelers’ boats that agitate the calm of the ocean the light will become more intense at the right moment when the waves break when the sea is more agitated. It is a process that occurs after phytoplankton – small luminous beings and the main food of marine species – comes into contact with oxygen, causing a chemical reaction (luciferin) to join with the enzyme luciferase when the water moves, resulting in chemical energy that is converted intro light. Scuba divers can wave their arms or run their fingers on the sand while under the sea to cause a reaction on the glowing planktons.Scientifically known as bioluminescence, the sea of stars in Vaadhoo, currently uninhabited, is usually one of the island’s greatest attractions. The marine phenomenon can be best seen during moonless nights. Bioluminescence also occurred on the shores of Lakshadweep Islands, India, and Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico. The coast of Leucadia, California had bursts of light coming from the rolling waves during red tide. Within the Maldives, you can also visit the islands of Mudhdhoo and Rangali for this spectacular event. The Sea of Stars in Vaadhoo, Maldives is just only one of those great sites where you can see this happening but it can happen anywhere. Other marine animals like krill, deep-sea squids, and anglerfish also have their own ways and reasons for producing their own lights. Predators that eat the glowing dinoflagellates may attract bigger predators because the phytoplankton can still glow even when inside another creature.ĭinoflagellates aren’t the only ones that produce bioluminescence. The blue light is believed to be some sort of defense for these marine organisms. Some dinoflagellates produce toxins harmful to fish, humans, and other creatures. Luciferase together with luciferin are combined in scintillons and when oxygen joins them, the neon blue light is created.Īlthough dinoflagellates have this blue glow, it doesn’t mean that they’re friendly at all. Proteins that flow into the scintillon, while the pH in the cytoplasm changes, creates a series of chemical reactions that activate a protein called luciferase. The electrical pulses open the voltage-sensitive proton ion channels into scintillons (the flashing unit inside dinoflagellates). As dinoflagellates float, movement in the surrounding water sends electrical impulses around a proton-filled compartment inside them. One of the most common phytoplankton that causes marine bioluminescence is known as dinoflagellates. These microorganisms or marine microbes are called phytoplankton and there are a variety of its species that create bioluminescence seen in different parts of the world. This phenomenon is caused by a natural chemical reaction known as bioluminescence, which occurs when a microorganism in the water is disturbed by oxygen. It’s definitely a fantasy-like experience but before you roll over in search of that specific beach in Vaadhoo to see the so-called Sea of Stars, better know more about the beautiful little creatures that cause this unbelievable glowing effect. This phenomenon has been called the “Sea of Stars” due to its glowing blue waves. If you haven’t seen it yet, the internet has been dropping its jaws open with images of the surreal beach in Vaadhoo Island, Raa Atoll, Maldives.
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