Beaches with bioluminescence in Florida
10 beaches where bioluminescence is documented in Florida, each with the source, the date it was checked, and the season where the source gives one. That is 10 of the 185 ranked beaches in Florida.
- Documented10 beaches
- Best chanceDecember to February
- DinoflagellatesJune to August
- Comb jelliesDecember to February
- Most listedMelbourne (2)
10 beaches in Florida with bioluminescence.
When to see bioluminescence
Good to know. At these beaches the source places the bioluminescence in a lagoon, river, or bay directly behind the ocean beach, not in the surf. The beach page names the water and the season.
Melbourne, FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Indian River Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Parking · Free parking · Sunrise over waterView beach
Vero Beach, FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Indian River Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Parking · Sunrise over water · Restaurants and barsView beach
Melbourne, FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Indian River Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Parking · Free parking · Sunrise over waterView beach
Cocoa Beach, FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Banana River behind the beach in summer.Parking · Sunrise over water · Restaurants and barsView beach
Jensen Beach
4.3Stuart, FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Indian River Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Parking · Sunrise over water · PierView beach
FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in Mosquito Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Parking · Sunrise over water · BathroomsView beach
Stuart, FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Indian River Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Sunset over waterView beach
Apollo Beach
3.2FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in Mosquito Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Parking · Sunrise over waterView beach
FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in the Indian River Lagoon in summer.Sunrise over waterView beach
FloridaBioluminescenceDinoflagellates · June to AugustComb jellies · December to FebruaryBioluminescent dinoflagellates in Mosquito Lagoon behind the beach in summer.Sunrise over waterView beach
Compare beaches with bioluminescence
| Beach | Best season | Where you'll see it | Parking | Beach Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Gallie BeachMelbourne | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Indian River Lagoon | Yes | 5.6 |
| Wabasso BeachVero Beach | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Indian River Lagoon | Yes | 5.2 |
| Paradise BeachMelbourne | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Indian River Lagoon | Yes | 4.9 |
| Patrick AFB BeachCocoa Beach | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Banana River | Yes | 4.9 |
| Jensen BeachStuart | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Indian River Lagoon | Yes | 4.3 |
| Playalinda Beach (Nudist Area) | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Mosquito Lagoon | Yes | 4.1 |
| The Saint Lucie North SandbarStuart | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Indian River Lagoon | 3.8 | |
| Apollo Beach | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Mosquito Lagoon | Yes | 3.2 |
| Titusville Beach | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Indian River Lagoon | 3.0 | |
| Klondike Beach | Dinoflagellates Jun to Aug; Comb jellies Dec to Feb | Mosquito Lagoon | 2.1 |
How bioluminescence works
Bioluminescence is light made by living things. On coasts it comes mostly from dinoflagellates, single-celled plankton that flash blue-green when a wave, a paddle, or a hand disturbs the water, and in some places from comb jellies, which glow along their ridges. Still, warm, sheltered water such as a lagoon or a bay concentrates the plankton, so the brightest glow is often behind the ocean beach rather than in the surf. A dark night near the new moon, an hour or more after sunset, shows it best; a full moon or shore lights wash it out.
How we verify bioluminescence
A beach is marked only when a cited page documents bioluminescent water at the beach or in a lagoon, river, or bay directly behind it. The months shown are the season that source gives. Bioluminescence is seasonal and varies from night to night, so a place on this list does not guarantee a glow on a given visit. The page and the date it was checked are on each beach page. Sources and methodology
Where in Florida
Most are in Melbourne (2), then Stuart (2) and Vero Beach (1).
Best today: St. Pete Beach, 86 of 100
Wind up to 9 mph, waves up to 0.9 ft, 24% rain chance, high 88 F in St. Pete Beach.
When to go
Warmest sea: August at 88 F (31 C). Calmest water: July, mean daily maximum wave 1.3 ft. Fewest rain days: February, November, December.