Bio-Bay in Vieques
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photo courtesy of Doug
Myerscough - email: liquidwindows@yahoo.com |
Bioluminescent Bay is a "Must See" when you are in Vieques,
a once in a lifetime experience which draws visitors from all over the
world. Recognized as one of the most spectacular remaining
bioluminescent bays in the world, Bio Bay's luminescence is nearly
impossible to photograph. It is spectacular and must be seen to be
appreciated. Any movement of the water causes it to glow in the
dark; therefore, it is best viewed on a moonless night.
Here is what photographer and artist Doug Myerscough
had to say about photographing with long exposures in Bio-Bay:
"...some
interesting effects, but they are nothing like the experience of the bay
- merely people flapping their arms and legs, creating a glow on film
that looks nothing like the real glow of the bay. The true experienceof
the bio-bay is much more subtle, ethereal, and infinitely more
beautiful. Someday, with digital imaging becoming more sensitive,
someone will be able to get a stop action still photograph that really
captures the magic of this place. Like the Aurora Borealis before high
speed film; the emotional presence, the true color, and the true feel
of the bioluminescent bay is still better represented by the artist,
than the photographer."
The luminescence in Mosquito Bay (AKA Bio Bay) is caused by microscopic one-celled organisms
called dinoflagellates. The
micro-organisms'
scientific
name is Pyrodinium bahamense. They are part animal because they
move around and part plant because they photosynthesize sunlight using
chlorophyll. How or why do they glow? They emit a bright glow whenever
they are agitated, or moved around, a built-in defense mechanism that
makes these single-cell creatures seem larger than the actually
are (1/500") to predators.
I remember when I first moved to Vieques, I went to Bio-Bay
on the dive boat from 18° North and on the way into the bay there was a
huge school of glowing objects swimming out of the bay. As we drove through
it, we realized it was a large school of squid, which had just left
the bay after feeding on a few of the trillions of plankton there.
Their transparent bodies glowed brightly showing they had indeed gotten a
belly full.
Because the viewing of Bio-Bay is affected by light, even
the reflected light of the moon can dim an otherwise incredible
experience. Therefore, there are times when it is less than optimum
to
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dinoflagellates
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venture out on the bay. It is best viewed during a New to Waxing or
Waning moon, or before moon rise or after moon set. A full moon is not the bio bay.
There are couple of different ways to see the bay. One
is by electric boat with Island Adventures. Mark Martin and crew are well
versed on the bay and its unique surrounding eco-system, as well as the
features of the night sky. You'll receive an excellent experience and an education.
Swimming is encouraged, but you can stay high and dry
during this tour, if you choose.
The remainder of the ecologically sound tours of the bay
are a lot closer to the water and are self-propelled in kayaks. It's a
more hands-on experience and you can't help but get wet. These tours are
very entertaining and informative as well. The magic of being in the water
and watching it glow around you as you move is beyond words.....submitted
by the Webmaster
Contact the Tour Guides:
Aqua Frenzy Kayaks 787-741-0913
Blue Caribe Kayaks 787-741-2522
Abe's Snorkeling & Bio Bay Tours 787-741-2134
Island Adventures Inc. 787-741-0720
The calendars below may help you plan
your trip to Vieques if experiencing Bio Bay is of primary importance to
you.
2010 Phases of the Moon
Universal Time
NEW MOON FIRST QUARTER FULL MOON LAST QUARTER
d h m d h m d h m d h m
JAN. 7 10 39
JAN. 15 7 11 JAN. 23 10 53 JAN. 30 6 18 FEB. 5 23 48
FEB. 14 2 51 FEB. 22 0 42 FEB. 28 16 38 MAR. 7 15 42
MAR. 15 21 01 MAR. 23 11 00 MAR. 30 2 25 APR. 6 9 37
APR. 14 12 29 APR. 21 18 20 APR. 28 12 18 MAY 6 4 15
MAY 14 1 04 MAY 20 23 43 MAY 27 23 07 JUNE 4 22 13
JUNE 12 11 15 JUNE 19 4 29 JUNE 26 11 30 JULY 4 14 35
JULY 11 19 40 JULY 18 10 11 JULY 26 1 37 AUG. 3 4 59
AUG. 10 3 08 AUG. 16 18 14 AUG. 24 17 05 SEPT. 1 17 22
SEPT. 8 10 30 SEPT. 15 5 50 SEPT. 23 9 17 OCT. 1 3 52
OCT. 7 18 44 OCT. 14 21 27 OCT. 23 1 36 OCT. 30 12 46
NOV. 6 4 52 NOV. 13 16 39 NOV. 21 17 27 NOV. 28 20 36
DEC. 5 17 36 DEC. 13 13 59 DEC. 21 8 13 DEC. 28 4 18
2011 Phases of the Moon
Universal Time
NEW MOON FIRST QUARTER FULL MOON LAST QUARTER
d h m d h m d h m d h m
JAN. 4 9 03 JAN. 12 11 31 JAN. 19 21 21 JAN. 26 12 57
FEB. 3 2 31 FEB. 11 7 18 FEB. 18 8 36 FEB. 24 23 26
MAR. 4 20 46 MAR. 12 23 45 MAR. 19 18 10 MAR. 26 12 07
APR. 3 14 32 APR. 11 12 05 APR. 18 2 44 APR. 25 2 47
MAY 3 6 51 MAY 10 20 33 MAY 17 11 09 MAY 24 18 52
JUNE 1 21 03 JUNE 9 2 11 JUNE 15 20 14 JUNE 23 11 48
JULY 1 8 54 JULY 8 6 29 JULY 15 6 40 JULY 23 5 02
JULY 30 18 40 AUG. 6 11 08 AUG. 13 18 57 AUG. 21 21 54
AUG. 29 3 04 SEPT. 4 17 39 SEPT. 12 9 27 SEPT. 20 13 39
SEPT. 27 11 09 OCT. 4 3 15 OCT. 12 2 06 OCT. 20 3 30
OCT. 26 19 56 NOV. 2 16 38 NOV. 10 20 16 NOV. 18 15 09
NOV. 25 6 10 DEC. 2 9 52 DEC. 10 14 36 DEC. 18 0 48
DEC. 24 18 06
2012 Phases of the Moon
Universal Time
NEW MOON FIRST QUARTER FULL MOON LAST QUARTER
d h m d h m d h m d h m
JAN. 1 6 15 JAN. 9 7 30 JAN. 16 9 08
JAN. 23 7 39 JAN. 31 4 10 FEB. 7 21 54 FEB. 14 17 04
FEB. 21 22 35 MAR. 1 1 21 MAR. 8 9 39 MAR. 15 1 25
MAR. 22 14 37 MAR. 30 19 41 APR. 6 19 19 APR. 13 10 50
APR. 21 7 18 APR. 29 9 57 MAY 6 3 35 MAY 12 21 47
MAY 20 23 47 MAY 28 20 16 JUNE 4 11 12 JUNE 11 10 41
JUNE 19 15 02 JUNE 27 3 30 JULY 3 18 52 JULY 11 1 48
JULY 19 4 24 JULY 26 8 56 AUG. 2 3 27 AUG. 9 18 55
AUG. 17 15 54 AUG. 24 13 54 AUG. 31 13 58 SEPT. 8 13 15
SEPT. 16 2 11 SEPT. 22 19 41 SEPT. 30 3 19 OCT. 8 7 33
OCT. 15 12 02 OCT. 22 3 32 OCT. 29 19 49 NOV. 7 0 36
NOV. 13 22 08 NOV. 20 14 31 NOV. 28 14 46 DEC. 6 15 31
DEC. 13 8 42 DEC. 20 5 19 DEC. 28 10 21
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One Traveler's
Account of a Trip to
Bio-Bay
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