Puerto Rico Sightseeing and Tours

Bioluminescent Bay

The 'Bahia Fosforescente' (Phosphorescent Bay or Bioluminescent Bay) at Puerto Mosquito should be listed as the eighth natural wonder of the world. The microscopic organism responsible for the glow in the water when agitated is a protozoan of the family dinoflagellata, a unicellular organism with two flagella that allow it to move through the water. The most common protozoan in Puerto Mosquito's waters in the Pyrodinium bahamense.

Bioluminescence is a natural defense system. When the protozoans are being attacked, the movement in the water excites them resulting in a chemical reaction that produces light. The light attracts bigger predators that feed on the smaller creatures that eat the protozoans.

The light is produced when a chemical stored within the cell, luciferin, is combined with oxygen resulting in the release of energy in the form of pure light. An internal clock in these organisms controls the production and storage of luciferin. There is very little concentration of luciferin within the cell during the daylight hours, thus little light is generated even if you could place them in the dark. The accumulation of the chemical peaks at night, and this is when the lights become more intense.

Details

   Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques

Reviews

Rated by bartosz pasternak on 10/06/06
Great!Unbeliveble expirience.I was there two weeks ago.Must see!!!

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