Neon Blue Beaches! The Prettiest Aliens Invading the Maldives at Night

Sunday 20th of December 2020

If you’re a Maldivian, 90% chances are that when you were a kid you were told that these neon blue lights on the beach where the waves roll are some form of alien or a monster. But oh how beautiful are these glowing beaches and the scary stories weren’t enough to keep us away from it. And if you’re lucky enough, you might get the chance to take a shot of this magical scene while you're on holiday here. 

The “aliens” are in fact bioluminescent plankton. This act is the production and emission of light by a living organism. But these plankton don’t glow all the time and it only occurs when plankton is disturbed with oxygen. So when and how can you spot these in the Maldives? Is it possible to predict when this natural phenomenon would take place? What are the best places to see this?

Last night, the people who were at Hulhumale were blessed to have spotted this stunning view. It was one crazy night on Instagram beaches it was flooded by amazing shots of the Hulhumale beach. It was also seen in Maafushi Island, one of the most popular tourist islands in the Maldives where you’ll find many hotels and guesthouses to stay in. Although these can appear at any time, the high season for spotting the plankton is mid-summer through to winter.

But there’s one island, where its beach is known as the sea of stars. Raa Vaadhoo has earned itself a name around the globe for its glowing beach and it’s definitely worth a visit.