Travellers who ventured to Male in the Maldives on December 19 got to experience the natural phenomenon of bioluminescent plankton washing up on a beach.

Footage shows the bioluminescence - locally known as Redhan - glowing vividly when reacting to touch.

When touched, the algae in the sand and water glows bright blue and looks like a galaxy far away.

Travellers to exotic waters, like those surrounding the islands of the Maldives, may be treated to a natural phenomenon that turns the night-time ocean into a field of glowing stars.
As waves break on the sandy shore, or bare feet step into wet sand, a bright blue glow appears. This magical effect is caused by the bioluminescent plankton that often appears in warm coastal waters.

How to spot bioluminescent plankton
One man who understands the wit and chance needed to locate bio-luminescence is Kris Williams, a photographer specialising in time-lapse landscape and astro photography whose work with bio-luminescence was recently featured on BBC Earth.

Kris says ‘As with most natural phenomenon, it is a huge challenge to put yourself in the right place at the right time. Blooms of bioluminescent plankton are notoriously difficult to predict, and they occur most often far out in the ocean. It is only when tidal currents cause them to be washed towards the shore in large numbers that you will be able to see them from land.’

Although its shore-line appearance is a rare occurrence, you’re more likely to spot bio-luminescence with some determination, patience and these few key pointers from Kris:

‘Do your research and find locations such as small bays, coves and harbours where bio-luminescence has been seen before.’
‘The warmer months tend to be more successful for bio-luminescence sightings, and I’ve seen the phenomenon occur myself in the months between April and November.’
‘If you heard of a display happening near you try the same spot again over the next night or so, as stronger displays can stay around for a while. Some displays I’ve seen only occur for a night, others have stayed there for several weeks.’
‘Needless to say you will need to be out looking during the night time, plankton have a circadian rhythm and will only emit bioluminescence during that time. You need the darkness in order to be able to see them.’
‘It is sometimes possible to spot the blooms during the day, by looking for clumps of red algae in the water near the shoreline – this is a good indicator that the plankton are present there and that its worth visiting that spot again the following night. Remember that this indicator tends to be only for larger displays, and if you can’t see any red algae it doesn’t mean that the plankton isn’t present.’
‘If you are out walking on a beach at night, turn off your torch, phone light and any other lights, to let your eyes acclimatise to the darkness and you’ll soon be able to find your way around. If you are shining a light onto the water then you won’t see the plankton glow at all, they must have darkness (but they are not affected by moonlight and it’s still possible to see them under a bright moon).’
‘For bioluminescence to happen, the plankton needs to be moved or disturbed by something, so as the surf crashes onto the shoreline, the waves will ripple in blue light. Or as you walk along the beach, plankton that are left deposited on the shore’s sand and stones will light up and sparkle beneath your feet. If the sea is particularly calm and just gently lapping the shore, this may not be enough to cause bio-luminescence to light up. It’s worth agitating the water to check, throw a stone into the sea and if the plankton is there you’ll be rewarded with a bright blue splash of light.'
Where to see bioluminescent plankton
If you want to see the bioluminescent plankton for yourself then there are a number of locations throughout the world where they regularly appear. Luckily, most of the locations where the plankton appear also make good holiday destinations. The Maldives is famous for shining white beaches and teeming marine life and almost every island is visited by glowing plankton. High season for spotting the plankton is mid-summer through to winter but it can appear at any time.