A group of lucky boaters captured the stunning scene as a pod of dolphins glided through bioluminescent waves off the coast of Newport Beach, California.

The footage recorded on September 12 shows trails of glowing algae streaming behind the marine mammals as they cut through the waves.

The filmer said: "There has been an incredible bioluminescent algae bloom off the coast of Southern California for the last few weeks. Some lucky boaters found dolphins and fish glowing brightly at night."

Bioluminescence is caused by tiny organisms that drift in the ocean called lingulodinium polyedra, often called phytoplankton. They produce light in response to surface tension and acidity.

There has been an incredible bioluminescent algae bloom off the coast of Southern California for the last few weeks. Some lucky boaters found dolphins and fish glowing brightly at night.


Dolphins swimming in bioluminescence off the coast of Newport Beach, CA