If we said you could swim with the stars, would you believe it? Well, not only is it true, but it’s available for you to do right here on Earth! That’s right, you can swim with the stars without even needing a rocket ride – just a bog standard plane will do.
If you’re a lover of clear blue skies and white sandy beaches, chances are the Maldives are already on your list, but we’re here to add one more reason to visit. A natural phenomenon like no other, the mystically-dubbed ‘Sea of Stars’ is something plucked straight out of a fairytale. Certainly Ariel, the little mermaid herself, would probably find herself at home here. And if that’s not enough to convince you to go, I don’t know what will!
If you’re looking for mystery, romance, and a little bit of adventure, the Sea of Stars is the place for you. Let’s take a look at exactly why this place is filled with so much wonder.
What exactly is the Sea of Stars?
You really have to see it to believe it, but the Sea of Stars are quite literally glowing waves!
Yes – glowing waves. You read right. Waves that glow. And it gets better! If you put your hand in the water, take a swim, or generally make any sort of movement in the waves, the glowing intensifies. I told you you need to see it to believe it!
While it’s never guaranteed you’ll be able to see it as this is considered a fairly rare occurrence, the best time of year to give it a go is late summer and into the autumn. At least, that’s what the locals say, and hey – they are the experts! It’s also only visible at night, for obvious reasons. But don’t worry, if you make the trip and it doesn’t show for you, you’re still in an incredible location for romance and magic…
Where is it?
The Maldives (or the Republic of Maldives) are a collection of islands – also called an archipelago – in Southeast Asia in the Indian Ocean. Made up of an estimated 1,200 islands consisting of both coral islands and sandbanks, around 200 are inhabited, and it’s one of those where our starry phenomenon lies.
While there are several places in the Maldives where this magical light show can be seen, the most reliable by far is Vaadhoo Island in the Raa Atoll region. With a population of around the 500 mark, this truly is a slice of paradise. Even without the starry seascape, this island is one for the books.
Just like its sister islands, you’ll find picture-perfect sandy beaches with sea so clear you’ll think it’s an illusion (and that’s before you even get to the stars!). Just make sure you pack your snorkels to not miss out on the beautiful sea life right on your front door. I mean, literally on your front door! Hire a water villa and start your morning with a dip in the sea via the slide from your very own hut!
But I know you’re not here for a geography lesson… that’s right, it’s time for science class to begin.
What makes it so magical?
Strap in, we’re about to get technical. As much as we all like to believe in magic and the like, science is the real hero when it comes to the downright insane upon this here planet Earth. Whether it be the coral reef, volcanos, or bizarre rock formations like the Giant’s Causeway and Belogradchik, science is behind it all, wiping away her brow after a long hard day of making loads of cool stuff for us to go out and experience
So, what is it that makes the Sea of Stars glow? Or rather, is the question who makes the Sea of Stars glow? As it turns out, we have tiny microorganisms to thank for this wonder of the world. Specifically, the Dinoflagellates of the Phytoplankton family. The Dinoflagellates share the Maldives’ Indian Ocean with tropical fish, sharks, coral, and much more, but it has to be said, in this part of the country they are the shining star… see what we did there?
While it would be reasonable to be wondering who fed the Dinoflagellates the weird liquid from glow sticks, we can confirm that’s not the case (you can put the phone down, this isn’t one for the authorities). In fact, this incredible little species glows entirely by themselves! It’s actually a defence mechanism – which clearly hasn’t worked on us because we’re flocking to it like it’s chocolate.
When oxygen is introduced in the water by movement of any kind – waves, or indeed people – it causes these little creatures to shine their light to warn off predators. The rest of the time, they float around charging up – yes, charging up – on the electrical impulses in the water. One of the coolest facts about them is that even if they are swallowed by a predator, they will still glow, in turn making the predator glow! Now that is poetry right there.
Is it safe?
You wouldn’t be alone if you were concerned about the safety of getting in the water with these insane glowing tiny fish things, but we can confirm it’s a-ok! Whether it be waving your hands through the currents, having a paddle along the shore, or a full blow swim, there’s no danger here.
In fact, it’s encouraged! This is without a doubt a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so if you’re lucky enough to be there when they shine, make sure to grab your swimsuit, don your snorkel, and jump right in. And don’t worry, there are plenty of places to eat nearby once you’re done.
Not only is it physically safe, your mental health will thank you for an experience like this, too. It’s well known that getting out into nature and experiencing new things can do wonders for the mind, and this is about as good as it gets when trying to tick those boxes!
Make your next holiday magical with the Sea of Stars?
If you’ve got to the end of this article without booking already, you’ve got better will power than us! As if the Maldives even needed anything more to make it a must-visit destination, they became the chosen ones for these glowing microorganisms to call home. And the rest – as they say – is history.
With so much magic and wonder in every continent of the world and every corner of every country, it can be a struggle sometimes to even know where to start! Even if you’re one of the sensible ones with a list, just choosing one can be hard. That’s why we’ve put everything you could possibly need to know about the Sea of Stars right here. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to!
In short, get yourself to Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives, hire yourself an Instagram-worthy water villa, take a stroll down to the beach, and make friends with your new favourite Phytoplankton, Dinoflagellates! You won’t regret it – that’s a promise!