LOOK: Cape Town beaches glow blue thanks to natural wonder
It might look like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, but this is all natural!
Cape Town is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
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They don't just glisten during the day; they even shine bright at night.
Don't let these glowing blue beaches fool you; this is not Photoshop or AI.
This is nature working its magic.
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In late August 2025, the waters of Clovelly Beach began lighting up.
The cause: bioluminescence.
Bioluminescence is a natural chemical process which allows living things to produce light in their bodies.
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Fish, squid, tiny crustaceans and algae produce bioluminescence to:
- confuse predators
- lure mates
- attract prey
What creates a bioluminescent tide are dinoflagellates, single-celled phytoplankton that produce a blue-green light.
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This phenomenon rarely occurs on shallow coastlines but can provide memorable displays on nights when the new moon appears and the ocean waters are warm, calm and windless.
Photographer Brenton Geach managed to capture this on Fish Hoek, with the tide in all its glowing glory:
Many others also took to social media to share the pictures and videos they captured, from False Bay to Muizenberg:
@cape2culture Bioluminescence 💙🌊 #blueocen #capetown #ledwave ♬ Late Night Vibe - Rude Boy
Bioluminescence in Fish Hoek
byu/PermissionHot9645 incapetown
@life.with.shakes #capetown #southafrica #southafricatiktok>= #beach #bioluminescence #explore #bioluminescent #capetowntiktok #plankton ♬ Bloody Samaritan (Cover ver) - BIGBABYC🎶
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Image: Reddit/r/capetown