On 26 April, Jordin Robins, an Australian photographer was lucky enough to capture the ocean lighting up. He photographed a stunning bioluminescence display at Jervis Bay, an oceanic bay and village on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.
Robins shared his pictures in a Facebook post saying that it was ‘truly an amazing sight to see’.
Explaining the phenomenon he captured, he said:’ What can be seen as a red tide during the day, the microalgae Noctiluca scintillans produces a bright blue glow at night when it is disturbed.’
Marine organisms use bioluminescence, or in other words the production and emission of light, for a variety of reasons. Some creatures use it to attract prey, while others use it to attract mates. It is also used to confuse predators.
Most commonly, humans see bioluminescence set off by a physical distruption like a wave, or a moving boat. These disturbances cause the animals and organisms to light up. It happens through a chemical reaction (a molecule called luciferin reacts with oxygen), which produces light energy in the organisms body.
According to the Smithsonian Institute the characteristic is quite common. ‘Bioluminescence is found in many marine organisms: bacteria, algae, jellyfish, worms, crustaceans, sea stars, fish, and sharks to name just a few. In fish alone, there are about 1,500 known species that luminesce,’ they said in a post on their website.
Have a look at the incredible sight below:
If you’d like to see more of the photographers work, check out his website.
Images: Jordan Robins Photography
