Mosquito Bay: July 28, 2013

A drawing of one of the dinoflagellates.  The Bioluminescent Bay (also known as Puerto Mosquito, Mosquito Bay, or "The Bio Bay"), is considered the best example of a bioluminescent bay in the United States and is listed as a national natural landmark, one of 5 in Puerto Rico. The luminescence in the bay is caused by a micro-organism, the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense, which glows whenever the water is disturbed, leaving a trail of neon blue.

A combination of factors creates the necessary conditions for bioluminescence: red mangrove trees surround the water (the organisms have been related to Mangrove forest ^[12] although Mangrove is not necessarily associated with this species ^[13]); a complete lack of modern development around the bay; the water is cool enough and deep enough; and a small channel to the ocean keeps thedinoflagellates in the bay. This small channel was created artificially, being the result of attempts by the occupants of Spanish ships to choke off the bay from the ocean. The Spanish believed that the bioluminescence they encountered there while first exploring the area, was the work of the devil ('El Diablo') and tried to block ocean water from entering the bay by dropping huge boulders in the channel. The Spanish only succeeded in preserving and increasing the luminescence in the now isolated bay.

This photo only begins to depict the "road" we took to the bay.  Yes, the car is tire-deep in water.  We rode a school bus, with tree branches slapping the tops of our heads through the open windows.  Talk about a bumpy ride!  The bus sometimes careened so far to the side that I thought it might tip over.  A highlight of the experience, for sure!

Hard to capture the glowing microorganisms without a timed exposure.  Gives you a faint idea of the neon blue light.  Very cool when a fish would dart away from the boat, leaving a glowing trail in the water.  I climbed down a ladder at the back of the boat to swish my legs in the water and watch it glow.

The sky was so dark we could see the Milky Way and many constellations.  Our guide pointed out various constellations with a laser light and told us the mythology associated with several of them.