Bioluminescence occurs when certain organisms undergo a chemical reaction inside their bodies that produces light, a glow known as luminescence. When conditions are right, the effect can transform an ordinary stretch of coastline into something quite spectacular.
That was the experience at Stanmore Bay last Friday night, where photographer Matthew Davison captured the phenomenon on camera. His images showed the breaking waves lit up in vivid neon blue. Davison described the display as "unforgettable."
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Clinton Duffy, curator of marine biology at Auckland Museum, says what people witnessed was no freak event. Each spring, microscopic plankton bloom in the coastal waters, making the bioluminescent glow a reliable annual occurrence. Duffy noted that the algae can keep blooming for several weeks, with intensity depending on the nutrient levels in the water and how settled the surface conditions are.
For those hoping to see the spectacle for themselves, the Hibiscus Coast has long held a reputation as the best place in the Auckland region to view bioluminescence.
