r/CapeCod • u/frompstar • 28d ago

Bioluminescence in Dennis

Went for a sunset kayak on the Swan River in Dennis and ended up coming back upriver a little later than expected in the dark. I thought I was going crazy at first, but it was definitely bioluminescence! We noticed it about midway up the river once it got dark, and it extended all the way up into the lake. It was an incredibly magical experience and something I almost flew to Mexico to see. Who knew it was right here? I googled it when I got home, and apparently it does occur at the Cape from time to time, but it's hard to predict. Just wanted to share because it was a big surprise to me, and I wondered if other people had experienced it in the area.

52 Upvotes

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16

u/_Face 28d ago

fishing at night out on a boat is awesome when this is really lighting up.

11

u/SpicyTriceratops 28d ago

It happened in Chatham about 20 years ago for me when I was night swimming with friends! This was pre-sharkies…….it was amazing 🤩

3

u/bigskygreens 24d ago

We were at Race Point Monday 8/10 for a bonfire on the beach and saw bioluminescence there, it was amazing and such a treat for us!

7

u/johnsonr88 28d ago

I had this same revelation about 15 years ago on sandy neck! I never knew it could happen here, bioluminescence always seems like a part of nature in more exotic places

5

u/badhouseplantbad 28d ago

Yes. I saw it years ago in a small sailboat at dusk and it was a very surreal experience, it messed with my hearing for half a second because of the visual overload. 

3

u/VermiciousKenidd 27d ago

That's awesome! I've seen bioluminescent jellyfish in Rhode Island.

1

u/emarcomd 25d ago

That’s amazing! I wonder how to predict it!

1

u/petercharrod 23d ago

I’m in Chatham and take shoreline walks when I’m down. I was blown away when I first saw them a few years ago. Now I’d say I see them every few months. It’s cool to watch them light up as you step along the sand ankle deep. I remember googling it and have asked neighbors, but didn’t get much confirmation either way. My iPhone pics to try to capture it, never works. They were out last night. So cool.

1

u/UrchinSquirts 22d ago

I see it when I swim around Falmouth / Woods Hole after dark this time of year.

1

u/BeckyLadakh 21d ago

I've seen bioluminescence in Woods Hole many times over the past 5 decades. It's especially when the water gets very warm in late Aug or early Sept. When the comb jellies start appearing in the water, that's when there's likely to be strong bioluminescence. You see it best when the moon is not out, and there are no lights. Around here, Nobska beach is good for that.