In praise of the Red Tide

Red tide is hardly a little-known phenomonon, especially in coastal cities like my own. However, from what I have seen the general consensus is that red tide is little more than an extremely annoying occurance - for several weeks, the ocean changes from a lovely blue to a murky red, perhaps better described as a shitlike brown. Surfers are understandably irked by this, as it is no fun to ride around in something resembling raw sewage, as are romantic beach-goers, who would prefer the sun set into something a little more appetizing. But these people are missing something, and their problem is rather simple.

They don't go to the beach at night.

Somehow, the myth has developed that the beach is somehow less "awesome" at night then in the day, despite the fact that night does away with both crowds and sunburning, which are the beach's only real drawbacks. Most nights, you can walk for a good three miles down the beach and only run into at most five people - and it isn't much different during red tide. It's strange that this is the case, because night is when the beach in general and red tide in particular get *really* good.

I won't pretend to know the actual natural phenomona which causes the event, but suffice to say the creatures which make up red tide are bioluminescent - i.e. they glow in the dark. I can remember my first experience with red tide... I've always enjoyed the beach at night, so imagine my surprise when one of my late-night walks was accompanied by bright blue neon lights from the water. It was like a smaller and one-hued version of Las Vegas. That night I must have stared at the waves for hours, hypnotized by the bizarre patterns which shot out each time one broke...

It was only to become more and more fun with each subsequent encounter. There are good nights for red tide, and then there are *great* nights. You see, when the phenomenon is strong enough, then it effects not only the water but the sand on the shore as well. Meaning that, when you walk, your footprints flash brightly, and that when you kick sand, colors shoot out like they would from a foot-mounted laser beam. Someone like me, who is eternally nostalgic for his playful childhood days, can only see something like this as a sort of blessing from above. The sandbox which kept me so entertained as a child, I now know, is nothing compared to this new radioactive glowing sandbox. And not only does my new sandbox glow, but there is now no mother to call me home...

And it just keeps getting better. This summer marked my first chance to go surfing in the red tide, which was possibly the most amazing encounter yet. While I have heard some rumors that red tide is unhealthy to go swimming in, I have never had any problems with it. Quite the opposite - swimming in it is perhaps even more fun than building sand castles in it. In places where the effect is strongest, every movement of your body causes an instant trail of electric light. Put goggles on and jump underwater, and you can become the Human Torch (only blue) for as long as you can hold your breath. Surfing in it is the logical next step... there is something truly amazing about riding a wave while your surroundings are virtually on fire. Night surfing is rumored to be one of the most dangerous activities possible - if that is the case, then I feel extremely talented, as I have done it several times (in allegedly poisionous water, no less) and each time come out feeling even more alive than usual.

Miraculously, the red tide is still in effect this year, after about a month and a half. It usually only lasts a week or two - if you haven't yet, I advise you to go check it out before it vanishes. This prolonged red tide is something of a mystery to me, but a welcome one - and to be honest, red tide, period, is a bit of a mystery. I'm sure there is some scientific explanation, but there's no way it can describe exactly how or why red tide is just so *gorgeous*. I tend to think of the phenomonon as a sign - a sign that if there is some greater force out there that created this world, then he has damn good taste in art.