The stunning bioluminescent water is seen in San Diego, California in this amazing clip that spans across the months of April and May of 2020.

"And now a video of the epic and psychedelic red tide that I've photographed on the coast of San Diego County the past week or so," said the filmer, Kevin Key.

The red tide is named for the rusty red color it makes the water in the daytime. This is one of the best instances of bioluminescence I've experienced in San Diego since 2011. Shot with a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera, Kevin added.

Red tides, which often contain harmful algal blooms (HABs), are caused by chemical reactions that occur between algae and other substances. Red by day, blue by night, this colorful ocean phenomenon is a relatively rare natural occurrence that has spawned a number of imitations in movies and literature, the most recent example being a rather striking scene in the visually-driven movie Life of Pi, according to Kevin.

Bioluminescent algae blooms (like the ever-popular dinoflagellate marine algae called Sea Sparkle) are most frequently observed away from shorelines. Though beautiful in the dead of night, during the day these blooming phytoplankton are less than stunning. They often turn ocean water red and murky, and emit a distasteful smell of decay that comes from the algae starving the water of oxygen, according to Kevin.

And now a video of the epic and psychedelic red tide that I've photographed on the coast of San Diego County the past week or so.

The red tide is named for the rusty red color it makes the water in the daytime. This is one of the best instances of bioluminescence I've experienced in San Diego since 2011. Shot with a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera.

Red tides, which often contain harmful algal blooms (HABs), are caused by chemical reactions that occur between algae and other substances. Red by day, blue by night, this colorful ocean phenomenon is a relatively rare natural occurrence that has spawned a number of imitations in movies and literature, the most recent example being a rather striking scene in the visually-driven movie Life of Pi.

Bioluminescent algae blooms (like the ever-popular dinoflagellate marine algae called Sea Sparkle) are most frequently observed away from shorelines. Though beautiful in the dead of night, during the day these blooming phytoplankton are less than stunning. They often turn ocean water red and murky, and emit a distasteful smell of decay that comes from the algae starving the water of oxygen.