San Diego Red Tide
Bioluminescent phytoplankton create their own light during a red tide in the rolling surf along the coast of Leucadia, California September 29, 2011. A water condition knows as red tide, where billions of decaying, single-celled organisms gather in the ocean, create a night time light show for local residents. REUTERS

All sorts of reds and blues have been glowing in the waters off the San Diego coast for the past two weeks, thanks to a beautiful natural phenomenon known as red tide.

This area of the Pacific Ocean has been populated with billions of decaying, single-celled organisms for the past two weeks.

By day, the ocean appears to be a rusty red color, while at night, the water glows with bioluminescent phytoplankton called Lingulodinium polyedrum.

The blue light show at night occurs when each organism gives off a flash of light created by a chemical reaction within the cell. Multiply this movement by billions of cells and one gets a giant light spectacle, according to the blog Deep Sea News.

The last time a strong red tide was recorded in the area was in 2007.

Locals have been getting a kick out of the red tide, especially at night.

Some have reportedly been kicking damp sand at night to see sand light up like lightning, while surfers have been noticing a glowing trail that mimics their water movement, The Orange County Register reports.

Expected to last for several more weeks, the red tide is being closely monitored by experts and enthusiasts.

On Thursday, self-proclaimed fringineer Kevin Baird posted a photo of the glowing ocean to his Twitter account, calling the spectacle SpongeBob's aurora borealis.

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