I think it depends on the tides / blooms. We visited that same spot on a moonless night, and swam in it - there were sparkles in the water when you disturbed i

I think it depends on the tides / blooms. We visited that same spot on a moonless night, and swam in it - there were sparkles in the water when you disturbed it, and a diffuse green glow all around. I've also been on the beach at Point Reyes where you could see the waves glowing and the sand sparkling with our footsteps. (That particular red tide gave me a bit of a rash on my legs, unfortunately.) I agree that a camera can really exaggerate this kind of phenomena, and also the aurora, but, if the conditions are right, these things ARE indeed spectacular to witness with your bare eyes.