Mosquito Bay: Behind the Mysterious Bioluminescent Water That Glows When You Paddle in It

Mosquito Bay offers visitors a magical experience as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, but science can explain what's happening behind the neon blue-green color they see every time they paddle in the water.

Mysterious Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay

Puerto Mosquito (Mosquito Bay)is situated on the southernmost tip of Vieques Island, a Puerto Rican island. This bay is frequently described as "magical," people fortunate enough to visit it consistently concur.

The famous Bio Bay got its name from a vessel renowned Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí utilized. The little boat was named El Mosquito, which he frequently hid in the water to avoid being discovered.

In 2008, the bioluminescent bay in Vieques was officially recognized as the world's brightest in the Guinness Book of World Records. Much of the island was destroyed by Hurricane Maria, which sadly disturbed the delicate equilibrium of the bay and resulted in the disappearance of the beloved Mosquito Bay. To everyone's surprise, the bioluminescent bay not only recovered but also became brighter than it had ever been.

The main town of Esperanza, home to most of the island's hotels and guesthouses, is not far from the bay, which is situated on the southern side of Vieques. Numerous nearby tour operators provide guided excursions to Mosquito Bay.

Most trips gather in the Esperanza town center and take a bus or van to the bay. There are frequently two-night tour periods, one right after sunset and one around eight o'clock.

A tour guide will guide a small party of kayakers around the bay, pointing out its features and explaining the principles behind bioluminescence. The majority of tours don't require participants to be experienced kayakers.

The bay's captivating luminosity stems from its high concentration of dinoflagellates, which range from an average of 1,000,000 to 2,100,000 per gallon of water. This number strangely doubled during Hurricane María.

One of Puerto Rico's greatest natural miracles is the absence of light pollution around the Mosquito Bay Natural Reserve and the mangrove swamps, which provide food for plankton.

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What Are Bioluminescent Bays?

Bioluminescent bays or "bio bays" are specific aquatic environments that support the growth of dinoflagellates. These microscopic creatures are large enough to create the "glow-in-the-dark" phenomenon known as bioluminescence. When you paddle or splash the water, these organisms illuminate in a bright blue-green hue, giving the impression that billions of glowing stars are lighting the water.

Puerto Rico is home to three of the world's five ecosystems, with a concentration of these dinoflagellates high enough to be referred to as a bioluminescent bay! Aside from Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico is home to bio-bays Laguna Grande and La Parguera.

Laguna Grande in Fajardo is close to San Juan and is the most visited ecological bay in Puerto Rico. It is also the only one of the three that isn't a bay because of the lengthy, thin canal leading to the stunning "glow-in-the-dark" water, which qualifies as a lagoon!

On the other hand, motorboats can only enter and exit the bioluminescent bay at La Parguera, which is situated in Lajas in Puerto Rico's southwest corner. In addition, La Parguera is the only ecological bay where swimming is allowed, and some guided trips offer equipment to let you swim after dark. Furthermore, you can spend the night on a glass-bottom boat cruise and reflect on the creatures behind the water's magical glow.