A glowing plankton bloom in Big Sur, California
From early January and into February, the waves of Big Sur have been emanating a dim, blue glow. Most divers are familiar with the phenomenon of bioluminescence, however, conditions have to be just right to see it in Big Sur and especially to be able to capture it in a photograph. However, several photographers have been capturing the bloom of glowing dinoflagellates, which are a result of high nutrient levels in the water and a high pressure system preventing the typical winter storms from “stirring up” the waters.