As of today, out of season, returns ~August. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Occasionally along the central California coast near Santa Cruz, dense dinoflagellate blooms color the water red or orange by day and produce bright blue bioluminescent sparkles when waves or surf are disturbed at night.
These events are episodic, triggered by large blooms and local ocean conditions, and can light up shorelines for nights to weeks.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Natural Bridges State Beach |
| Seacliff State Beach (Aptos) - 'Concrete Ship' area |
| + 2 more spots, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.