The black ocean water and their sleek bodies were lit up by the brightness that this unique phenomenon creates, a rare sight off local waters not seen in years.

Dolphins Swim Through Bioluminescent Waves at Black's Beach in San Diego A boat leaves a trail of bioluminescence in Newport Beach. (Mark Girardeau) The phytoplankton glows when physically agitated.

Blue bioluminescent waves showed up in Newport Beach on Oct. 26, 2021. The glowing waves have been spotted sporadically in Southern California for a year and a half. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Coyne) ...

Bioluminescent phytoplankton give the surf an electric blue glow, according to National Geographic. Some dinoflagellates -- single-celled planktonic creatures -- can produce toxins that are ...

In San Diego in November 2023, photographer Vishwas Lokesh captured bioluminescent waves at La Jolla Shores and Torrey Pines State Beach.

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Stunning video shows two surfers riding glowing bioluminescent waves while being towed by a boat in Hermosa Beach. The surfers described it as a once in a lifetime ...

Bioluminescence is back! For the past few nights, lucky San Diegans at Torrey Pines State Beach and Ponto Beach got a glimpse of bioluminescent waves crashing on the coast.

Not to worry, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement on Friday. The black stuff is known as "peat" and was dredged up during a 14-mile beach-replenishment project from earlier in the ...

WATCH: Bioluminescent waves crash at California beach by: Anna Ashcraft Posted: Feb 14, 2024 / 01:31 PM MST Updated: Feb 14, 2024 / 01:31 PM MST ...