One can take a dip in the water and be taken aback as the twinkling dots are not just in the sea but also on the body. The only difference is that, instead of the usual golden glow of dust that the fairies emits, the one ashore the beach is ladened with bright blue glowing neon dots. It feels as if the waves washing ashore are sprinkled with it and it would not be long when one could just grab a handful of it. Those who like fantasies may be reminded of magical pixie dust emitted famously by fairies in movies and picture books.
The view is magical and leaves visitors mystified and bewildered with its otherworldly sight. When the sun goes down, the shoreline starts to get slowly illuminated with millions of little dots of lights, making it look like if there were thousands of stars glittering in the sea. To witness the phenomenon, one has to visit the beach at night, most preferably during a new moon. Welcome to the unique beach on Mudhdhoo island, also known as Vadhoo island, in Maldives. The island is around 5 miles, or 8 kilometers, away from the Malé International Airport, where tourists can gain passage on a boat to reach the island.Those familiar with the phrase ‘sea of stars’ will be thrilled to find that it really does exist. The bioluminescent plankton can usually be viewed on Vaadhoo Island in the Raa Atoll in the Maldives. Photo by Johanna Brehmer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Unfortunately, this algal bloom can be harmful to marine life and even cause shellfish poisoning when humans eat shellfish that have consumed the plankton. Copyright © National Land Image Information (Color Aerial Photographs), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Made based on, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, With Permission I’m not exactly sure if it’s just a coincidence both materials have Lucifer in the name, but I’d be screaming at the devil too if I saw this stuff before science was a thing.ĭuring the daytime, the microscopic creatures sometimes collectively appear brown or red, and when they amass in large quantities, people call the phenomenon a “ red tide.” The color can be quite different, though. The first is an enzyme called dinoflagellate luciferase, and the second part is a chlorophyll-derived substance named luciferin. In the case of the Sea of Stars, the rolling motion of the waves triggers this reaction, especially when approaching land.Īs for the underlying mechanism, there are two components that trigger the glowing.
SEA OF STARS MALDOVES FULL
The water in these special areas is full of this breed of plankton during certain times of the year, and as they glow when rattled, the motion of the ocean causes them to glow in astounding beauty.Īs you might’ve guessed, this shimmering natural glow makes the ocean here look like the sea is full of stars - thus the name.īioluminescence is thought to be a defense mechanism, only activating when these dinoflagellates experience stress or stimulation. Rather, it’s a type of bioluminescent phytoplankton that goes by the name of dinoflagellates. Surprisingly, it’s not due to radioactive underwater mutants making their slow march to invade the Above World. Photo by catalano82, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 This eye-shocking marvel occurs yearly during the late summers in the reefs around certain islands of the Maldives.
It’s the Sea of Stars in the Maldives! What causes the Sea of Stars to glow? As the waves roll in front of you, an alienesque white glow emanates from the watery depths.ĭo you run? Do you scream? Do you search for this article and find out what’s behind this uber-cool natural phenomenon? You’re in the tropics strolling down the beach at night when you suddenly spot something a bit…out of place. Photo by catalano82, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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