Red tide causes surf to glow in an amazing neon blue color in Southern California

Matthew Diebel | USA TODAY

Dude, my surf is glowing.

A red tide is causing the nighttime surf to light up in a striking blue color along parts of the Southern California coast.

The phenomenon is caused by an algae bloom called bioluminescent phytoplankton and has been affecting the ocean from San Diego to Encinitas since Monday. The micro-organisms light up along the face of the wave when it crashes near the shore.

Oceanographer Michael Latz told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the last time the surf went from white to blue was in September 2013.

A red tide offshore San Diego is bringing a spectacular display of #bioluminescence to beaches at night, as captured in this photo by John H. Moore. Scripps scientist Michael Latz said the red tide is due to massive numbers of dinoflagellates including Lingulodinium polyedra. 🌊 pic.twitter.com/JnSlXGBuEs — Scripps Oceanography (@Scripps_Ocean) May 8, 2018

Latz, a bioluminescence expert at the University of California-San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, explained what happens: "The water contains dense numbers of dinoflagellates especially Ceratium falcatiforme and Lingulodinium polyedra, As L. polyedra (formerly Gonyaulax polyedra), which is well known for its bioluminescent displays,” he told the paper.

The sight has drawn crowds to shorelines, including many photographers, according to local TV station KFMB.

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"It's this bright electrical blue color and it's beautiful," said Jami Leslie Feldman, owner of a photography firm called Underwater Paparazzi.

Stephen Bay, of Stephen Bay Photography, captured the neon tides Monday night at Torrey Pines, the station reported.

"It kind of looked like the color of a light saber," said Bay. "It really was a bright blue color that was just fantastic to look at."