The Blue Light Showing Up in the Water at Florida Beaches
It looks SO cool, but what is it? As the waves crash along the beaches in Florida this week, some are seeing a bright blue light. Paul Dellegatto from Fox 13 shared a photo to his social media snapped near Anna Maria Island that shows the bright blue glow in the water.
Is it something to worry about?
Crowds witnessing the phenomenon are enjoying the show. Is it something to be concerned about? Not at all. Unlike red tide or vibrio vulnificus that do cause health problems, this is nothing to worry about. It’s a natural thing. It’s called bioluminescence.
Reports of bioluminescence near Anna Maria Island recently. The light is produced by a natural chemical process, most commonly in algae blooms. Check out the glow in the water off Coquina Beach Tuesday night! 📷 Jonelle Lyn Forbes #Florida pic.twitter.com/x5t96uUizp
— Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX (@PaulFox13) September 15, 2023
What is it?
The National Ocean Service describes the light as energy released by chemical reactions occurring inside (or ejected by) a bioluminescent organism. They say it’s used to warn or evade predators, to lure and detect prey, and for communication with other members of the same species. They say it’s kind of like the aquatic version of a firefly. [Source: NOAA]
Tampa Bay Area Beaches With Cheap Parking
Ben T Davis/Cypress Point Park
This narrow beach is the perfect hangout spot. It’s great for cookouts, birthday parties, and everything in between. Parking rates at Ben T. Davis are $2.50/hour. Or you can head to Cypress Point Park which is an oceanfront park with mangroves, canoe dock, picnic shelters, and a volleyball court. Parking here is free, you just have to get here early to claim a spot.
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Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach offers the most beach access parks (the most in Pinellas County). 27th Ave to 19th Ave, a few FREE public parking spots are provided at each access.
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Dunedin Causeway/Honeymoon Island
The Dunedin causeway is by far one of the cheapest options when it comes to beach days in Tampa Bay. It costs NOTHING to park at the causeway and enjoy the views of boaters, kayakers and jetski’s zoom across the bay. If you want that actual beach feel with soft sand and less rocks in the water, keep driving to Honeymoon Island. Parking is $8 per car and that’s all day. Let’s say you spend 5 hours out on the beach, that’s $1.60/hour.
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Pass-A-Grille
Pass-A-Grille also has plenty of cheap parking options. Meters are a $3.35/hour rate. Holidays are a $15 flat fee. You can also find a bunch of FREE parking along 8th ave.
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Sand Key
The daily parking fee at beach pay stations is $5. This lasts all day making it one of the cheaper options for beach parking!
Photo: Pinellas County
