The dazzling moment that the sea lit up
This stunning photograph captures the rare bioluminescent plankton in the sea at Port Talbot. The phenomenon, also known as “sea sparkle” or Noctiluca scintillans, is currently making our seas glow bright blue, due to the recent warm weather.
Andrew Rosser was at Aberavon beach to catch a glimpse of the wonderful sight during the early hours of Friday. He said: “I went down to the beach at around 12.30am and I stayed for an hour and a half.
“There must have been at least 60 to 70 people there.
“Amateur and professional photographers and groups of young and old taking photos with smartphones. It was an amazing feeling of community spirit. Watching people gather around as people collected rocks to throw in.”
The amateur photographer, 26, said: “After a few attempts of trying, I finally got to see the amazing bioluminescent plankton. It was magical watching the patterns appear. It truly was Mother Nature at her best.”
Glowing bright blue when disturbed by waves or currents, they often appear in warm coastal waters, like those in the Maldives and Tasmania – but they have been spotted at coastlines across Wales this summer.
There have been sightings in Anglesey, Three Cliffs Bay in Gower, and Southerndown in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Photographer Alyn Wallace has also written a blog on his experience of swimming with the bioluminescent plankton at Three Cliffs Bay.
In his post he wrote: “It was one of those things I never thought I’d experience without travelling halfway across the world.
“Being surrounded by the blue glow and sparkle of bioluminescent plankton whilst underneath the grace of the Milky Way was one of my most surreal and magical moments.”
Photographer Kris Williams has spent the past few years capturing stunning images of the mesmerising sight. He spotted the plankton at Penmon in Anglesey on Sunday, June 24, and also created a stunning video of his experience – which even included taking a dip and splashing around in the glowing water.
Kris said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the bioluminescence on the Welsh coast many times over the past five years, both in north and south Wales.”
He said: “You can scoop the water up and see plankton covering your fingers like tiny stars, or watch as the waves light up where you swim through them. It really is something magical to see and experience.”
He said since the first sighting Penmon had been inundated with people going along at night to experience it.
There is no way of knowing where the magical sparkle will pop up next.
Kris said: “It’s always worth checking your local beach, but you do need to wait until it’s as dark as possible, so usually between midnight and 3am.”