There are so many gorgeous views to enjoy in Wales from beautiful countryside and rugged mountain peaks. Some sights are more unusual than others.
This includes the luminous bioluminescent plankton that makes the sea glow. This natural phenomenon can be seen all across Wales and has been spotted in Wales in 2022. You can keep up to date with the latest What's On news by signing up to the newsletter here.
Some people love spotting the bioluminescent plankton, which is usually only found in the tropics, and spend many nights hoping to catch sight of them. Thomas Winstone is a astrophotographer you'll sometimes find him out at the seaside long after the sun has disappeared for the day, photographying the plankton.
He said: “To get this in Wales is so special. You could go to Jamaica, India, Thailand, South Australia to go and see it, where it’s more guaranteed. But to have this on our doorstep, in the middle of a pandemic when you can’t really travel, or travelling has got more expensive, it’s a cracking way to promote Wales for tourism and things like that as well.”
Lee McGrath, who works as a theatre commodities coordinator at Neath Port Talbot Hospital by day and photographs the plankton by night, also loves trying to spot the glowing plankton. He said: “It is like something otherworldly, once you get your eye in to spot it, you know what to look for...We are lucky to have seen it the last few years on the Welsh coast here, you just have to put yourself in these locations and hope for the best.”
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You can read more about Lee and Thomas here. There have already been sighting of bioluminescent plankton in Wales in 2022 and here is everything you need to know to try and catch a glimpse for yourself.
Where is the best place to see the plankton?
It is impossible to predict where the plankton will be on a given night, so people are discouraged from making long journeys to see the plankton at a specific location. However, Thomas Winstone recommended that people go out to their local coastline to see if they could spot it there. Patience is recommended.
Where has the plankton been spotted so far in 2022?
People have reported sightings of bioluminescent plankton on these Welsh beaches in 2022.
- Burry Port, Carmarthenshire
- Caswell Bay, Gower
- Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
- Newton Beach, Porthcawl
- Cei Bach Beach, Ceredigion
What time is best to see it?
Unsurprisingly, the best time to see the plankton is when it is dark. The plankton is usually spotted during astronomical twilight, which is between 11pm and 3:30am in the UK in June and July. However, Thomas said he had spotted the plankton as early as 10.20pm previously.
How long will it be around?
It is difficult to tell. The plankton is often spotted in the summer months, however, the phenomenon has been spotted until as late as October and November.
What are the best conditions to spot the plankton?
While there is no concrete answer for this, the plankton appears to favour warm sea temperatures and clear, sunny days. However, the bioluminescence has also been spotted in heavy rain and thick fog.
What to look for
The plankton will appear as a faint glow but can appear stronger on some nights where the blue neon glow can be seen from as far as 100-200m away as the waves break or as you agitate the water by splashing or throwing in a pebble. It is recommended that you turn off your torch in order to better see it once you have reached a safe place to do so.
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