Red Tide at Night

It's a little spooky standing on the sand just north of Scripps Pier in La Jolla at night. Water drips from a culvert and trickles across the sand as I wait impatiently for my companions. Where are they? At last two shadowy figures appear. Mary and her friend have shown up after all!

It is a beautiful, warm summer night. Looking out to sea, as each wave breaks, there is a spreading cloud of green light. The whitewater is alive - literally - with phosphorescent plankton, AKA the Red Tide.

The midsummer ocean water is quite warm and comfortable, but I am glad nevertheless to be in my wetsuit. As we walk onto the wet sand at the water's edge we leave glowing footprints. Although the Red Tide is no longer at its peak of a few days earlier, there is still plenty of luminous activity.

Stepping into the water, each step produces a flash of light. Now up to my waist, I swing an arm back and forth underwater and stare in amazement. My whole hand and arm are illuminated, outlined by a flowing sheath of green light. I feel like a character in a comic book!

Looking to my side, I see my companions illuminated by their motions as they stroke toward the horizon. The phosphorescent glow of millions of tiny plankton light up arms and faces as we approach the strike zone.

Duck-dive or turtle, it doesn’t much matter - even with my eyes closed under water the blue-green glow penetrates my eyelids. Just a few more strokes and I have arrived. Time to ride.

I spot a wave by some combination of its shadow against the sky and traces of reflected lights from shore. A quick acceleration and I’m gliding down the face, leaving a bright green slash behind. I cut left and race ahead of the shoulder, chased by surging, glowing foam. Sheer de-"light"! The wave closes out in an almost blinding flash of photonic madness.

In between waves we sit astride our boards and talk, feet dangling in the water, tiny brilliant specks illuminating our wetsuits like stars against a black sky. What infinitesimal percentage of humanity has ever shared such an incredibly beautiful evening? We are indeed the privileged few.

I paddle north a ways and catch some more rides alone, enjoying the beauty of the night, the stars, the shining microorganisms, and the solitude. God is indeed imaginative beyond imagination as anyone who will open his or her eyes to the light can readily see.

Next time you hear there’s a Red Tide - don’t miss it! That foamy, glowing bearded grin you see streaking across a luminescent face may just be me!