Let’s share an ideal scenario for you where you are walking barefoot on the soft and cool sands of the Maldives at night and suddenly the waves touching your feet start showing up tiny sparkles and a beautiful neon-blue glow. Yes, we are talking about the bioluminescent beaches at the Maldives that you can only explore via Maldives holiday packages.
The Maldives hides some of the world’s most stunning secrets and these glowy beaches are amongst them. As they are not something you get to see every day, so the entire phenomenon counts as a whole rare sight for many travellers, serving as the main highlight of their visit to the Maldives. But where can you see and experience this sea-glow in the Maldives? We are about to answer that in this post, so stay tuned and keep reading.
What Is Bioluminescence and Why the Sea Glows in the Maldives?
Coming to the basics first, this is a natural light that is produced by living organisms. It is the same glow that you typically get to see in fireflies and in the ocean, it is created by tiny plankton called dino flagellates which are small microscopic organisms that produce light wherever their movement is disturbed.
Common scenarios including the crashing of the waves or when you are into the shallow waters for some walk. You can catch enough of these glowing planktons in the Maldives at the night by the shore and the movement of sea itself created a beautiful blue backdrop with the stars dancing in the waters. This light is far from the artificial lights and has its own charm, making everything seem magical and out of this world.
As the Maldives is made of more than 1000 coral islands, the environment here is perfect for the growth of marine plankton and the clean waters around the islands help these plankton thrive. Bioluminescence can also occur in other parts of the world as well, but it looks especially stunning in the Maldives owing to the natural beauty and the darkness of these islands.
When Is the Best Time to See the Glowing Beaches?
This phenomenon is not visible every night and we cannot say that there is any fixed schedule to view it. As it is a natural phenomenon, so there is no fixed time, but still there are specific times of the year when the chances of viewing it are even higher. One of the best times to see it is during June and December, especially during late summer or monsoon times as during such times the plankton are more active due to continuous changes in water temperature and ocean currents.
To further improve the likelihood of viewing it, you need to visit islands with lesser artificial light and go out for a walk on the beach at night when the sea is calm. You can also discuss with the resort staff or locals as they often know about when the glowing plankton were observed recently.
Where Can You See Bioluminescent Beaches in the Maldives?
While this phenomenon can occur at different islands across the Maldives, there are still a few places that are more famous for offering this special sight. Head to the Vaadhoo Island at the Raa Atoll of the Maldives that serves as a gem spot for viewing the glowing beaches and waters. It is also quite famous among photographers who can capture the blue waves of these waters glowing under the starts. This is a local island so you can enjoy more authentic and affordable experiences as compared to private resort islands where you will end up paying higher to witness bioluminescence.
Maafushi Island makes another great spot and affordable option for viewing it and many of the travellers have already reported successfully witnessing the glowing waters here during the right season. Plus it is quite accessible from Male and offers the best tourist-focused experiences. Other options for local islands include Dhigurah and Fulidhoo that also serve bioluminescent sightings to everyone with fewer crowds and a higher probability without background noise or bright lights.
Please note that again that as it is a natural process so there is no 100% guarantee and viewing the quieter sides can increase your chances.
What to Expect When You See It?
When the conditions are favourable, you will start seeing soft blue sparkles along the waves on the shore. Some of them will even light up your footsteps imprinted in the sands and most of the travellers report it like some stars from the sky have fallen by mistake into the ocean. The glow will not last all the night and is only visible when the water is calm. Sometimes it is rarely visible and sometimes it is bright enough to click an ideal picture without having the need to turn on your phone’s flashlight. If you are into photography, you must bring a tripod as glowing plankton are hard to spot without a steady camera. Stay up late to catch the scene even if it happens during or after the midnight.
Final Words- Is It Worth a Visit?
Surely, it is. Plus, these plankton are safe to be around and they don’t sting or harm animals. You can thus easily walk or swim in the water without any worries. Made up your mind already to visit the Maldives to visit the famous bioluminescent beaches? Book your Maldives holiday packages with Virikson Holidays for an amazing journey and countless memories.
