bioluminescent tour orange county

Glowing Waves Return To OC Beaches: Where To See Bioluminescence

L AGUNA BEACH, CA — Orange County beaches are putting on a show with bright bioluminescent waves, with recent reports of the glowing waves coming from Seal Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach this week.

The sights have been so breathtaking that Davey's Locker Whale Watching & Sportfishing ran boat tours of the bioluminescence on Jan. 2.

According to Jessica Roame, education and communications manager for Newport Landing & Davey’s Locker Whale Watching, if the bioluminescence sticks around, the tours will go throughout the week.

According to Roame, bioluminescence is caused by tiny phytoplankton called dinoflagellates, which are light-producing organisms that live in the ocean.

When the plankton bloom, they create luminescent waves on the water.

"It’s hard to predict when or where these tiny plankton will bloom, or how long it will stick around — which is one reason this is so cool to be happening right here within range of our boats," Roame told Patch.

The article Glowing Waves Return To OC Beaches: Where To See Bioluminescence appeared first on Laguna Beach Patch .

Glowing bioluminescence waves were spotted in Southern California again. Here's how to find them.

Beachgoers spotted bright blue, glowing waves in Southern California’s coastline this week.

The bioluminescence waves , which turn the ocean red during the day and glow neon blue night, have been reported being seen at multiple California city coasts including Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Oxnard, Malibu, and San Diego coastlines over the past week.

“Some years have been better but this year, so far at least this week, has had pretty bright bio[luminsecent]” said nature photographer Mark Girardeau, who runs the website Orange County Outdoors.

"At Main Beach they have some pools that fill up in the sand during high tide and then the water just sits there once the tide goes down. And then if you go walk in, it just lights up super bright."

Girardeau, who works at a whale watching boat in Newport Beach, noticed on Sunday the ocean appeared a brown red color during the day and later learned his instincts were right that the bioluminescence returned. Having documented the glowing waters annually since the 2020 super bloom , he and his fellow photographer partner Patrick Coyne did not hesitate to capture more stunning images.

Girardeau shared photos and video on his website and social media platforms.

"I was freaking out because I've never seen this before. I thought it was just a super rare phenomenon," Girardeau said. "It was like super bright."

How does bioluminescence make waves glow at night?

Bioluminescence, a chemical reaction most commonly seen in marine organisms, causes light to emit from living things. When these organisms are moved by waves or the paddle of a kayak or canoe, the light becomes visible. Most marine and land organisms' bioluminescence appears blue-green, however, some land species, such as fireflies, beetle larvae, and even mushrooms, also glow yellow.

What species cause bioluminescence waves?

High densities of Lingulodinium polyedra (L. polyedra), a plankton species recognized for the neon blue glow it emits, causes the spectacle, according to a 2020 report by UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Jacobs School of Engineering.

The species is a type of dinoflagellate, a single-celled organism with two flagella. Dinoflagellates and diatoms are the two main types of phytoplankton classes, according to the National Ocean Service .

Phytoplankton are an essential part of making the planet livable as they contribute to the global carbon cycle as key producers of oxygen.

Phytoplankton can grow explosively over a few days or weeks, according to NASA.

Watch: Florida kayaker captures video of dolphin swimming in bioluminescence waters for its food

When and where can I find bioluminescence?

The best times to see bioluminescence are in the summer and fall on dark, cloudy nights before the moon has risen or after it sets, according to the National Park Service . 

Phytoplankton blooms occur in the Gulf of Alaska thanks to the nutrient-rich water that provides fertile conditions for species, according to NASA .

Notable spots to see bioluminescence in popular bodies of water in the U.S. include Tomales Bay State Park  in northern California,  Vieques National Wildlife Refuge  in Puerto Rico,  Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary  in Washington and bays near  Acadia National Park  in Maine. The phenomenon can also be seen anywhere along  the National Seashore's coastline , according to the National Park Service.

Girardeau recommends checking out a couple of beaches where they have been reported and staying at each one for a while to determine whether they're visible.

What's the best way to see bioluminescence at the beach?

Girardeau said you have to let your eyes adjust to the bioluminescence as waves some nights only have a faint glow. He also recommends practicing patience.

"We get messages all the time from people saying they went down on the beach and stood there for like five minutes and didn't see it and they just left," Girardeau said. "You have to hang out there for a while because it depends on the sets."

The higher the tide the less noticeable the glow is, Girardeau added. He also said that while he's definitely seen the glowing waves shortly after sunset, he notices they are more noticeable after midnight.

Is it safe to swim in bioluminescence?

Lingulodinium polyedra can produces yessotoxin, a compound that acts as a neurotoxin, in some locations the Mediterranean. However local populations do not produce yessotoxin, according to the 2020 UC San Diego’s report.

"However, some people are sensitive to inhaling air associated with the red tide, so the organisms must be producing other compounds that can affect human health," the report said. "In general, during a red tide there is lots of dissolved and particulate matter in the water with associated enhanced microbial activity. It is personal choice whether to go in the water, but there is no public health warning associated with the red tide."

Catch Southern California’s rare ocean light show like a real bioluminescence hunter

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Three hours into a chilly night on the water in April 2020, Patrick Coyne was ready to give up. Cruising out of Newport Beach and down to Dana Point, he and two fellow nature photographers had been sailing on a boat in the pitch dark, hoping to capture a rare moment: dolphins gliding like electric blue eels through bioluminescent plankton.

It had been a month since the COVID-19 pandemic began and Coyne was eager to shoot something transcendent that he could share with a struggling world — a rare and beautiful confluence of marine life seldom witnessed by human eyes. But the team was cold and tired, and after logging more than 60 miles round trip during what was considered a major bioluminescence event, no marine life had come to play by the boat. Just a few hundred feet from docking at Newport’s harbor, they decided to call it a night.

That’s when they saw it: the glow around their boat. And then, two dolphins popped up in front of the bow as if to say hello, their weaving shapes gleaming with bright blue light.

Coyne was so shocked he dropped his gear, but soon recovered to film the pair. Another two dolphins joined, and Coyne filmed silently, in awe as they lighted up the water on his screen.

“The second I stopped recording, we were screaming and cheering, and I remember having tears in my eyes,” Coyne said. “The world needs to see this — this is literally out of a fairy tale, a movie.”

That video went viral , inspiring the Los Angeles community of bioluminescence hunters to grow during the pandemic. Coyne says that strangers started contacting him over Instagram, requesting that he alert them each time he witnessed a glow.

In coastal regions, the primary source of bioluminescence is the natural phenomenon of agitated dinoflagellates called lingulodinium polyedra. When this type of phytoplankton collects, it’s often called “the red tide,” and as a collective occurrence, it can be as fickle as the dolphin pods, moving and shifting in any direction or failing to light up in the most ideal conditions.

Coyne started photographing bioluminescence in 2019, but began chasing it in 2020 after a giant red tide bloom exploded from Southern California to Baja California. Driving from his home in Torrance to the beach several times a week, he went live on Instagram each time he found it. His videos, like a surf lighting up as it breaks against the beach in Crystal Cove , are at once meditative and exhilarating. From the messages that flooded his Instagram inbox, he knew he was onto something. The bioluminescence provided an outdoor light show and a connection to nature that people craved.

“When we think back to 2020, the time we were living in was really bad, and all of a sudden we had something really magical happen that allowed people to get out to the beaches,” Coyne said. “It was a hard time because of COVID, but it was also one of the best times of my life because I was capturing footage I had never captured before and meeting a community of people who got to see this for the first time. It really did change my life.”

Despite the frequent frustration of searching for bioluminescence and finding nothing, Coyne keeps going to the beach every week. He loves how ephemeral the natural phenomenon can be, like lightning on a stormy night.

“It takes a little effort to find bioluminescence, and that’s part of the lore and why people like it,” Coyne said. “You think it’s going to glow and then it doesn’t, so when you get to see it, it’s a reward.”

That’s why Coyne refuses to give bioluminescence tours, though he’s had his share of requests. Still, there’s a good chance of seeing it if you live here. Coyne explains that Southern California, with its unique and ample coastline and warm weather, is one of the best spots for spotting bioluminescence. “We’re so lucky to live in Southern California,” he said. “We have a really unique coastline that other places don’t have.”

A group enjoys a bonfire alongside bioluminescence in San Clemente.

To join the bioluminescence chasers, head to Newport Beach, Crystal Cove and Crescent Bay Beach, Coyne said. San Diego’s beaches are also well-reputed for having warmer waters and prime conditions for the phytoplankton. But the most significant factors in your likelihood of seeing the glow may simply be your persistence in going out night after night, and your awareness of the presence of red tide.

“The world needs to see this — this is literally out of a fairy tale, a movie.”

— Patrick Coyne

Pay attention if you see photos and videos of surfers out in the waves, and the water looks reddish brown, or murky. Then, try hitting the beach two hours after sunset. A heavy rain followed by a warm, sunny day also bodes well for bioluminescence, Coyne said, because the nutrients from the rain and light of the sun aid the algae bloom. As for visibility, you may have your best luck during a new moon because there’s less light on the water. The next one is Nov. 23.

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If you don’t have time to hit the beach every night, or drive 45 minutes down to it at 3 a.m. in the morning like Coyne, paying attention to social media is the next best way to chase the glow — or even just experience it virtually. Follow individual chasers, like Coyne ( @patrickc_la ), Mark Girardeau ( @markgirardeau ) and Josh Gravley ( @joshg_photos ), who post to their Instagram stories or go live when they find bioluminescence. You can also follow popular hashtags, like #bio2022 (and #bio2023 next year), and #bioluminescence.

While catching the bioluminescence at some point is likely, taking photos of it is more challenging. Your smartphone may not capture its effects as well as a DSLR camera, and flashes will drown out the low-emitting light. If you’re invested in photographing it, Coyne advises purchasing a camera that specializes in low light and shooting on darker nights in less light-polluted areas like Malibu beaches.

When you’re lucky enough to stumble on bioluminescence, you can run your feet through it, sail a toy boat in it like Coyne has, swim in it (if you’re brave enough to weather the cold) or let your dog run through it. But be aware that some people have reported an allergic reaction of itchy skin or eyes, respiratory sensitivity or even hives after surfing or swimming in the natural phenomenon.

To Coyne, swimming in bioluminescence is magical, but he’s also happy just to see it, especially when Southern California waters are so cold. “It’s like a science-fiction movie when you get the chance to see it in person, and you wonder, ‘Am I actually dreaming?’” Coyne said. “For me, it’s become an addiction so beautiful to see in person that I don’t want to ever stop seeing it — it’s never enough.”

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Glowing waves return to southern california coast, bioluminescent waves are lighting up beaches across orange county, with latest reports coming from seal, newport and laguna beach..

Miranda Ceja , Patch Staff

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County beaches are putting on a show with bright bioluminescent waves, with recent reports of the glowing waves coming from Seal Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach this week.

The sights have been so breathtaking that Davey's Locker Whale Watching & Sportfishing ran boat tours of the bioluminescence on Jan. 2.

According to Jessica Roame, education and communications manager for Newport Landing & Davey’s Locker Whale Watching, if the bioluminescence sticks around, the tours will go throughout the week.

Find out what's happening in Orange County with free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Roame, bioluminescence is caused by tiny phytoplankton called dinoflagellates, which are light-producing organisms that live in the ocean.

When the plankton bloom, they create luminescent waves on the water.

"It’s hard to predict when or where these tiny plankton will bloom, or how long it will stick around — which is one reason this is so cool to be happening right here within range of our boats," Roame told Patch.

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Bioluminescence is back!

Red tide has returned after Tropical Storm Hilary!

How often does this happen?

Over the last several years, we've discovered that there is some bioluminescence that appears sporadically throughout the year in Southern California. While it's not very consistent, there can be some glowing waves any month out of the year. However, after we get a good rain storm, it seems like there's thick red tide about a week or two after. This red tide causes the bioluminescent waves as the dinoflagellates light up when they're agitated. This agitation can be caused by waves crashing or from human disturbance when water is calm. The waves tend to light up best when they crash further out from the sand. While it is possible to see these glowing waves any month out of the year, some months and years are just very faint and not that noticeable. After rain storms, it basically seems to be amplified.

Where is it in 2023?

Bioluminescent waves haves been seen from San Diego County to Ventura in August and September of 2023 although it has been sporadic. Tides and currents will cause the red tide to shift around and depending on which beaches face which directions, that'll cause some beaches to be better or worse. In September of 2023, we've noticed it pretty good around Crescent Bay and Main Beach in Laguna Beach and very good in Sunset Beach. There's also been some bright waves in Oceanside and Carlsbad area. As for places where you can walk in it to have it light up, the small pools at Main Beach have been really good after the high tide fills them up, Newport Harbor and Dana Point Harbor have also had some.

How to find the neon waves

It's a very common question that we "bio chasers" get but there's is no way to accurately predict when and where this phenomenon will take place and when. However, we can guess based on several varying factors and sometimes our guesses are spot on while other times they're totally off. There are a few of us that seek out these bioluminescent waves very frequently and we're learning about what factors come into play to make this happen:

Red tide - This is the main factor needed for the bioluminescence to occur. Sometimes red tide is thick while sometimes it's very spotty/thin and spread out in streaks. While small patches/streaks of red tide will cause some bioluminescence, it will be faint and not consistent. The best is when there's nice, thick areas of red tide which looks like rusty colored water. That's what will light up nice and bright and consistent. Dinoflagellates are what make the water rusty colored, they are microscopic organisms that can't be seen individually with the naked eye but can be seen as cloudy rusty colored water as they form in the millions.

Sunlight - Dinoflagellates need to recharge each day before lighting up at night. They recharge by photosynthesis, catching sunlight during the day and storing this energy. If it's cloudy all day, they can't recharge as much. You can think of it like a solar panel, when it's cloudy there's still ambient light so you'll get some energy but not nearly as much as direct sunlight.

Wind - In order for the dinoflagellates to light up, they need to be in a clam state and then all of a sudden be disturbed which causes them to light up as they get agitated. When it's windy (as it often is along the coast), the ocean is turbulent and therefore, the dinoflagellates are constantly agitated and won't light up from the waves. You want a calm sea state with nice waves.

Waves - The most common way to watch bioluminescence is at the beach as the waves light up, but you need to have the right waves for this to happen. Large or small waves can both be good for bioluminescence but if the waves are breaking too close to shore, they won't light up. The waves need to break in the water outside the sand and whitewash in order to light up. Where the whitewash is, the water is already disturbed. Small, rolling waves tend to have longer lasting bioluminescence while larger waves tend to have shorter lasting bioluminescence but can light up brighter.

Is this a new phenomenon?

No, bioluminescence has been happening since sailors began sailing the sea and however long before that. While there is still a lot that's unknown about these plankton blooms, scientists are learning more about it every year. Surfers and fishermen have been watching bioluminescence for a long time. What is new though, is the ability to photograph it! Before recent times, very few cameras were able to document these events, yet alone having an experienced photographer pushing the camera to its limits to capture this low light event and happen to be at the right place, at the right time.

In recent years (2020-2023), these newer phones have better low light capable cameras that can actually pick up these glowing waves. So now we hear about it more because people are able to document it and post about it on social media. Even with that being said, it happens much more than we even know. We've stood on the beach and watched bright bioluminescent waves crash along the beach while also noting several groups of people walk along the shoreline completely oblivious to it. Many people are distracted by their conversations or or simply not thinking to look at the waves for bioluminescence.

Bioluminescent boat tours

This years bioluminescence has been so strong that whale watching boats from Davey's Locker and Newport Coastal Adventure have started running bioluminescent tours. These tours have been such a great opportunity for people to get out and see nature in her full beauty! Many of the trips have been lucky enough to see dolphins swimming through the bioluminescence as well. These tours have been selling out very fast but you can try to get a spot while the bio is still around by visiting Davey's Locker .

A scientist that calls San Diego home, has figured out how to collect bioluminescent water and purify it which filters out everything else except for the saltwater and dinoflagellates. By doing this, he has made it so you can have bioluminescent water that lasts quite a long time! It's really a very cool thing to have in your house. You can purchase your own bioluminescent water from Pyro Farms .

Did you miss the action?

August/September 2023's red tide bloom was a very good one that peaked for several weeks. If for some reason you were not able to get down to the beach and see it for yourself, you definitely missed out! Don't worry though, it'll happen again, but now the question is when? There is no way to predict when a red tide event will happen. It may happen again in a week, a month, a year, or even longer. We know that there are a few factors that typically occur before a strong red tide event with the main factor being lots of rain, but blooms can still happen as the ocean currents are always moving things around.

The best way to find bioluminescence is to simply check a few beaches randomly on any given night. It's very common for people to ask when and where it will be and very rare to have people actually searching for it and reporting their findings. It is also very common for people to be at the beach at night and not even notice bioluminescent waves. This is why your best bet is to simply check a few beaches and see for yourself, the least you get out of it is a nice walk on the beach at night which is very peaceful and relaxing. Good luck!

News | Aquarium of the Pacific ‘Night Dive’…

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News | Aquarium of the Pacific ‘Night Dive’ spotlights glowing bioluminescent waves

The beautiful, electric blue glowing water can be tough to track in nature – usually lighting up far past bedtime and elusively moving from beach to beach with ocean currents.

Other times, the bioluminescent waves don’t show up at all, leaving hopeful people standing on the beach waiting all night in anticipation, only to leave disappointed.

But the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach will be hosting a gathering on Friday, Feb. 23, that will allow people who have been fascinated by the phenomenon to get up close to the neon waters.

The Night Dive event – part of a series for which the aquarium transforms into an adults-only venue complete with cocktails and music  – will put the electric-blue water in the spotlight with several displays where people can shake up the algae to make it glow or put their hands into water to make it light up.

Patrick Coyne, a Torrance photographer who documents bioluminescence across Southern California, chasing it from the South Bay to San Diego and beyond, approached the aquarium with the “bio night” idea.

Coyne will be showcasing photos and videos taken over hundreds of hours since 2020, the most recent this week in Newport Beach and off San Diego’s coast.

He’s documented thousands of glowing waves and creatures frolicking in the neon blue water , everything from dolphins to ducks to sand crabs moving the phytoplankton to make it glow.

Dolphins seem to glow as they dart across the ocean off Laguna Beach on Sept. 10, 2023, during a bioluminescence boat tour put on by Newport Coastal Adventure. (Courtesy of Patrick Coyne)

Shallow water off Laguna Beach lights up with bioluminescence on Aug. 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Coyne)

A duck lights up the bioluminescent water in the Newport Harbor on April 25, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Coyne/@patrickc_la)

“For the people who haven’t seen it, this is their chance to get up close and personal with it, or to relive the moments they’ve had with it in the wild,” Coyne said. “It’s going to be really, really cool.”

PyroFarms, a Carlsbad-based company, will be on hand to showcase the bioluminescent phytoplankton, a living organism that produces light when agitated.

Dean Sauer, founder of PyroFarms, is a scientist who collected a sample near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography about 10 years ago and started growing the algae in a lab setting.

The company sells Bio-Orbs, glass ball “micro-aquariums,” filled with the bioluminescent phytoplankton for people to grow like a plant at home, or for educators who want to showcase it in their classrooms. It has also used the algae for art shows, similar to the set up it will have at the aquarium event.

“The primary reason people buy it is because of the novelty,” Sauer said.

Unlike samples that can simply be scooped up and taken home from the ocean that will have hundreds of other algae and creatures in the salt water, the PyroFarms orbs only have the species that emits light at night, Sauer said.”We grow it pure, in a controlled environment using natural and artificial lighting.”

It can last for years on just sunlight. he said. “It can grow and grow, indefinitely.”

In addition to the orbs people can shake up to see the water glow, the event will have large plastic bags filled with the dinoflagellate plankton that people can walk on and see their feet illuminate, and there will also be an open, small pools people can put their hand in to interact with it, he said.

Back when Sauer started the business, the algae blooms were happening only every few years.

“Now it seems to happen every other month, they are becoming much more common, at least in Southern California,” he said.

Dinoflagellate plankton are always present, but the red tides that can lead to glowing blue waves at night could be more prevalent in recent years due to a higher frequency of storms and warmer waters off the coast, said Nate Jaros, senior director of fish and invertebrates at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The algae blooms occur when nutrient levels are high, which can happen when pollution and urban runoff flood into the ocean. With sunlight following storms, and warmer waters due to an El Nino, the blooms have become more frequent, he said.

Bioluminescence is something common in nature, both in the water with ocean species but also in creatures like fireflies. Some critters emit the light to attract a mate, others use it to camouflage.

Photographer Patrick Coyne, of Torrance, captures glowing waves showing up at Crystal Cove State Beach and Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Coyne/@patrickc_la)

Neon waves glowed off Marina del Rey on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, caught on camera by Torrance photographer Patrick Coyne. (Photo courtesy of Coyne/@patrickc_la)

Photographer Patrick Coyne captured bioluminescent waves in San Clemente on Sept. 24, 2022, with a group enjoying a bonfire near the glowing waves. (Photo courtesy of Coyne)

Blue glowing waves lit up the night at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach late Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Coyne)

“It’s a cool phenomenon,” Jaros said, calling it “otherwordly.”

The excitement has spread also due to social media and the ability to document the glowing waves and share locations in real time, he said.

Part of the lure of the electric-like waves is it looks like something out of a fairy-tail movie, said Coyne, who has traveled as far as Florida to document the phenomenon.

“It doesn’t feel real when you’re looking at it. The ocean glowing at night – it seems like something you’d only see in the movies,” he said. “That feeling when you see it stays with you and you want to do it again and again and you want to chase that feeling. Now, you get to see it in real life, touch it and film it up close and personal in the aquarium setting. We’re going to bring it, you don’t have to search for it.”

There’s a lot that goes into transporting the dinoflagellate plankton, Coyne said. It can’t be agitated too much during the day, or it won’t glow at night.

For Coyne, sharing the bioluminescence he has become obsessed with at the aquarium  where as a kid he learned a love for the ocean environment, is a dream-come true.

“For me, having a full-circle moment is really special,” he said.

The event kicks off at 7:30 and goes until 11 p.m., reservations are required and the event is for 18 and older. Cost $64.95.  For more information: tickets.aquariumofpacific.org

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Families flock to Orange County to catch bioluminescence

Bioluminescence Lagoon Boat Tour

Daily, when available: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm, 800 mxn/person, transportation included, lagoon boat tour, bioluminescence swim, “swim under the night sky and watch the water glow around you thanks to this magical natural phenomenon”, details & itinerary.

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure that will take your breath away. Join us at Eco Adventures Puerto Escondido for an immersive and magical Bioluminescence Lagoon Tour.

As the night sky falls, we’ll take you to the lagoon, where millions of microorganisms will light up the water with your movements. It’s an enchanting and mesmerizing sight that will leave you in awe.

But that’s not all – our knowledgeable guides will also point out the constellations to you with a powerful laser, making for an unforgettable stargazing experience.

To ensure the best possible viewing experience, we’ve carefully selected the optimal dates on the calendar for observing the bioluminescence. The best time to see it is during the new or waxing moon, and we’ve blocked off dates that aren’t good for viewing to guarantee that you’ll have the best experience possible.

It’s an adventure that’s perfect for anyone seeking to connect with nature and explore the beauty of the world around us. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to swim in the glowing bioluminescence lagoon and stargaze with Eco Adventures Puerto Escondido.

Book your Bioluminescence Lagoon Tour now and get ready to be mesmerized!

• Discover why and how bioluminescence is formed.
• Swim in the bioluminescent waters.
• Enjoy the starlit night sky

What You Should Bring

• Water shoes or sandals.
• Insect repellent

What Is Included

• Round trip transportation.
• Life jackets for swimming in the lagoon.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is transportation included with this tour? Yes, we pick you up from your place of stay free of charge if it is located within Puerto Escondido. We can provide transportation for outside city limits for additional charge. 
• When will I get picked-up for my tour? Pick-up times for this tour start at about 30 minutes before the start of the tour.
• How do you determine the best times to see the bioluminescence? The bioluminescence is dependent on several factors. The phase of the moon can increase chances (new moon) or decrease chances (full moon) of seeing the bioluminescence.

Safety Information

• Life jackets provided.
• Transportation services are insured.

Cancellation Policy

• For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
• If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
• Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will be considered on an individual basis, depending on the circumstances.
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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Birdwatching lagoon tour, the mangrove kayaking experience, baby sea turtle release.

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Orange County Public Schools push half-cent sales tax to fund maintenance, upgrades

Voters could decide tax in november.

Catherine Silver , Reporter

ORLANDO, Fla. – When you walk through the halls of Edgewater High School in the present day, there are reminders of the past. Pictures show what the auditorium originally looked like when the school was built in 1952. In 2011, it was upgraded in a renovation paid for by sales tax approved by voters in the early 2000s.

Scott Howat, the chief communications officer at Orange County Public Schools, gave our News 6 team a tour of the school to showcase the power of the half-cent sales tax. Orange County’s is set to expire late next year.

“The half-penny sales tax, when it comes to a revenue stream, is really the only stream we have to address growth, to build new schools, to address those major renovations,” Howat said.

This November, it could be up to voters to approve it once again.

“The half-penny sales tax is critical, and our board will make a decision to move forward based on budget, based on data, based on what they’re looking at,” said Howat “The survey was critical for that.”

We asked OCPS to share the results of their recent facilities survey with our News 6 team. Howat said it gives them feedback from faculty, families, and the community so they can move forward and make informed decisions.

More than 10,000 people shared their priorities, and what they feel is their school’s top building or maintenance need. The responses were compiled in groups including elementary schools, K-8′s, high schools and more. Some top concerns were shaded spaces, A/C, overcrowding and clean and safe bathrooms.

“A lot of these immediate needs are getting fixed,” Howat said. “The issue is the fix needs to be long term. You want to invest back in your facilities.”

Our News 6 Investigators found out that more than $890 million worth of maintenance projects in Orange County could go unfunded, and they’re not the only district. The superintendent of Marion County Public Schools calls it a crisis.

“I think we have, and it’s not being overly dramatic,” Dr. Diane Gullett told News 6 in February.

“It’s been 15 years since there’s been a sales tax for our facility needs, and it’s been 13 years since we’ve had impact fees since they were suspended,” said Dr. Gullett.

Marion County also wants voters to decide in November.

If the Board approves a referendum for the ballot in Orange County, voters will decide to renew the existing half-cent tax.

“This is a continuation. If you paid it before, you’re paying it now,” said Howat. “Secondly, 50% or more of this tax is paid for by people who don’t even live in Orange County. You have Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard paying for our schools here in Orange County, because they come into our county, they spend money, they pay. That tax is derived by more than 50%t from those who don’t even live here.”

Now that Orange County Public Schools has the community’s input from its survey, leaders are working on the half-cent sales tax proposal. On May 7th, the Board will discuss their budget capital priorities for the next year and for the next 10 years and make a decision as to whether they’re going to put the sales tax before voters in November.

News 6 asked what happens if voters don’t want to approve it again.

“I don’t even want to think about that,” said Howat. “If that happens, we could go back to some of those pictures that we saw from Edgewater. We’d have 50-year-old buildings, portables to address growth. We would not be able to build schools.”

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About the Author

Catherine silver.

Catherine, born and raised in Central Florida, joined News 6 in April 2022.

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Music and Concerts | Aerosmith set to rock in Orlando next year on…

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Music and concerts, music and concerts | aerosmith set to rock in orlando next year on ‘peace out’ tour.

Fans of rock legends Aerosmith won’t have to “Dream On” for much longer if they wish to see the band perform live, as the group is set to stop in Orlando on their final tour.

Joined by special guests The Black Crowes, Aerosmith will embark on their 40-date “Peace Out” tour starting in Pittsburgh in September, landing at Orlando’s Kia Center on Feb. 11, 2025. The tour was rescheduled following a show in 2023 during which singer Steven Tyler sustained vocal chord damage .

Known for hits such as “Walk This Way,” “Sweet Emotion” and “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” the four-time Grammy Award winners are celebrating more than 50 years as a band on their farewell tour. Each night will pay homage to hits crafted by the iconic rockstars complete with THX high-fidelity sound.

Aerosmith has a special place in the world of Orlando theme parks as the first band to have a themed attraction at Walt Disney World with the Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster, which opened in 1999.

The current band lineup includes lead singer Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry, bassist Tom Hamilton and rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford. John Douglas will replace Joey Kramer on drums.

Tickets start at $69.95 before fees (and are subject to change based on market demand) and are on sale to the general public beginning at 10 a.m. April 12. A variety of VIP packages are available. For more information, visit kiacenter.com or aerosmith.com .

Find me  @PConnPie on Instagram  or send me an email:  [email protected] .

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Missy Elliott's 1st-ever headlining tour coming to LA; Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Timbaland to join

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Missy Elliott is about to do something she's never done in her 30-year career: She's heading out on her very first tour as the headliner!

The hip-hop icon, who has sold 40 million records worldwide, will perform in 24 cities this year, and she'll be in good company. Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Timbaland are joining her for this musical ride.

"Out of This World: The Missy Elliott Experience Tour" kicks off July 4 in Vancouver.

The tour will be here at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena on July 11.

Elliott said, "Fans have been asking me to tour forever but I wanted to wait until I felt the time was right because I knew if I was ever going to do it, I had to do it big!"

Tickets for the "Out of This World: The Missy Elliott Experience Tour" go on sale Friday - but presale event with code starts Wednesday morning.

Tour dates and locations:

• July 4 - Vancouver, BC
• July 6 - Seattle, WA
• July 9 - Oakland, CA
• July 11 - Los Angeles, CA
• July 13 - Las Vegas, NV
• July 16 - Denver, CO
• July 18 - Austin, TX
• July 20 - Houston, TX
• July 21 - Forth Worth, TX
• July 24 - Tampa, FL
• July 25 - Sunrise, FL
• July 27 - Atlanta, GA
• Aug. 1 - Baltimore, MD
• Aug. 2 - Hampton, VA
• Aug. 3 - Belmont Park, NY
• Aug. 5 - Philadelphia, PA
• Aug. 8 - Washington, DC
• Aug. 9 - Newark, NJ
• Aug. 10 - Boston, MA
• Aug. 12 - Brooklyn, NY
• Aug. 15 - Detroit, MI
• Aug. 17 - Montreal, QC
• Aug. 19 - Toronto, ON
• Aug. 22 - Rosemont, IL

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Local News | The neon glowing waves are back — and this…

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Local News | The neon glowing waves are back — and this photographer is obsessed with finding them

While you were sleeping, ocean waves were glowing again with an electric neon blast that lit up dark beaches.

Chasing glowing waves has become a near obsession for Patrick Coyne, a Torrance photographer who has scouted the sea for occurrences of the bright bioluminescence at least 50 times this year, from Malibu down to San Clemente.

Sometimes, the sea stays pitch dark, and the outing is a bust. Other nights, the waves lighten and take on a glowing hue, giving hope there will be a performance put on by Mother Nature.

And some nights are simply stunning as the waves crash and explode into a neon light show, including the past few nights at Crystal Cove and Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach, where Coyne has scored some of the best images and videos so far this year.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patrick Coyne (@patrickc_la)

“We’ve come to the conclusion, it happens way more often than we realize,” he said. “Since we’ve been checking every other week, we can make that assumption now. But it all can depend on condition and weather.”

Like the phytoplankton blooms that cause the ocean to glow, Coyne’s drive to photograph bioluminescence events has grown. He first got a glimpse of a bioluminescence bloom in 2018 and again in 2019 in Malibu, not strong events but enough to make him curious about the mysterious phenomenon.

Then in 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic hit and the world needed something to marvel at, Coyne and two other photographers, Mark Girardeau and Royce Hutain, captured images and video of bioluminescence happening off Newport Beach’s coast that went viral.

Through that strong bioluminescent phytoplankton bloom, which lasted nearly two months, Coyne was able to capture amazing moments, everything from neon blue dolphins frolicking alongside the Newport Coastal Adventure boat, to countless videos showing his toes kicking up sand that lit up like it had been zapped with magic.

He swam in it, put it in bottles to shake it around, marveling at it with a curious wonder.

So when he heard it was showing up again earlier this year, Coyne had to again document it’s appearance.

He’s estimated he’s gone out at least 50 times so far this year, each jaunt taking four-to-five hours, making for at least 200 hours he’s spent chasing the glow. That’s not counting the hundreds of hours he put in last year.

And if the bioluminescence event is strong, he’ll stay even longer, finding new angles to shoot video and images.

“When you’re staring at glowing blue water, it never gets old,” Coyne said. “The time goes fast, you forget you’re there for hours on end. It’s fun trying different pictures. I’ve been able to catch it a lot over the last year and a half. Trying new things out, new angles, shots and video is super fun.”

Joining him on recent outings is fellow photographer Josh Gravley, who he met last year while out shooting bio, as he calls it for short. They hit it off and now Gravley, who lives in Newport Beach, does “recon” checks on whether the ocean has a rusty hue during the day – a red tide can indicate the ocean might be glowing at night.

There’s been more people Coyne has met on his night adventures. Some follow his social media to see when he posts live videos and rush down to see it first hand. One guy even wanted a photo with him one recent night.

“Now I’m known as the bioluminescence guy,” Coyne said with a chuckle.

A Florida company, Get Up and Go Kayaking, found Coyne’s work and a month ago flew him out to take footage of bioluminescence happening at Merritt Island, a tourist attraction from September through October. Gravley and Girardeau joined as well.

They swam in it, paddled through it and watched dolphins, alligators and manatee glow in the electric water.

“We had an incredible time,” Coyne  said. “It was so dark there and it was a huge area and concentrated.”

He’s also been able to make a side job out of selling his images.

Coyne, who works for Apple as his day job, said it’s the unknown that keeps him go back out at night for more.

“There’s a decent amount known about bioluminescence, but there’s also not a lot known,” he said. “Just by going out as much as we have, we’ve noticed patterns and things to look out for.”

If waves crash right on the sand, for example, the glow is not as strong. But when the waves break further back, onto water, that’s where you get the brightest blue, he said. The darker the beach, the better, but ambient light in the distance makes for striking images.

In Newport Harbor, the calmer the better. When it’s windy, it doesn’t seem to show as strong. While last year’s glow appeared multiple nights at sundown, this time it seems to be showing closer to midnight, sometimes later, he said.

Scientists do have their theories of why it’s showing up so much this year.

The organism that produces coastal bioluminescence here, including red tides, is the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra, which has been common this year, not unexpected after the spectacular red tide last year, Michael Latz, an expert at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, wrote in an email.

“Although we don’t understand all the factors that contribute to its abundance, we believe that it is related to upwelling, which occurs when winds bring up nutrient-rich, deeper waters to promote the growth of phytoplankton,” he said. “The relaxation from upwelling conditions is thought to be one of the factors that promotes the growth of Lingulodinium.”

And like the ocean’s currents, it can all change swiftly – and then be gone.

That’s what happened this weekend. Coyne scored Friday and Saturday night, but by Sunday, the glow seemed to have dissipated.

Then, Wednesday night, it showed up again, this time even brighter than the previous nights.

“It’s amazing how fast conditions can change,” Coyne said. “One night it’s there, the next, it’s gone. And then, it’s back again.”

There’s a few places known for their bioluminescence events on Coyne’s bucket list, including a spot called Jervis Bay in Australia and another in Puerto Rico.

“Photography and videography has always been a passion of mine, when you combine something as cool as bioluminescence, it’s addicting,” he said. “I believe I’ll do this the rest of my life.”

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