Florida Bioluminescence Planner
The dark nights to see Florida’s glowing water, from the moon.
Space Coast lagoons · tonight
Go close to the new moonThe glow is easiest to see on a dark night: the moon down and the sky fully dark. Pick a night for its hours of moon-free darkness.
The next 14 nights
| Night | Moon | Moon-free dark |
|---|
See Florida’s bioluminescence on a dark night close to the new moon, when the moon is down and the sky fully dark. In Central Florida, glowing plankton are in season from May through November (peak June to October); comb jellies glow from November through May. This planner shows each night’s moon-free hours.
How to use it
Pick where you will paddle and the night. The answer gives the hours of full darkness (the sun more than 18° below the horizon), when the moon rises and sets, how much of it is lit, and how many of the dark hours the moon is down, and ranks the next 14 nights: dark (4 hours or more with the moon down), part dark (1 to 4 hours) or moonlit. It also says which glowing creature is in season that month.
Why the moon decides it
UF/IFAS Extension’s advice: “If you do want to get out and see the bioluminescence in person (which I highly recommend!), you will want to go close to the new moon.” Because “Too much light, whether from the moon or cities, will make it hard to see the bioluminescence.” VISIT FLORIDA says the same: “For either kind of bioluminescence, the darker the night the better, so check the moon calendar before you book.” with one exception: “During peak season, from July to August, the dinoflagellates are so bright that almost any night is fabulous.”
What glows, and when
| Month | What glows in Central Florida |
|---|---|
| January | comb jellies (peak) |
| February | comb jellies (peak) |
| March | comb jellies (peak) |
| April | comb jellies |
| May | glowing plankton; comb jellies |
| June | glowing plankton (peak) |
| July | glowing plankton (peak) |
| August | glowing plankton (peak) |
| September | glowing plankton (peak) |
| October | glowing plankton (peak) |
| November | glowing plankton; comb jellies (peak) |
| December | comb jellies (peak) |
The glowing plankton is a dinoflagellate: “The organism responsible for producing bioluminescence in the Indian River Lagoon is a dinoflagellate known by the scientific name Pyrodinium bahamense.” and “Pyrodinium bahamense produces bioluminescence when touched.” VISIT FLORIDA’s months, for Central Florida: “May through November is dinoflagellates season, with its peak from June through October and July and August being the prime months.” UF/IFAS narrows the bloom: “Pyrodinium bahamense only blooms in warm water conditions, so you will likely find blooms taking place from July-September.” Then the comb jellies: “A second bioluminescent event occurs in Florida during the colder months, from November through May, when Comb Jellies flaunt their vivid colors.” UF/IFAS in Charlotte County adds, for Southwest Florida: “In Southwest Florida, comb jelly season typically extends from October through May, with the greatest abundance and most spectacular bioluminescent displays occurring during the cooler months, particularly from November through March.”
Where to go
“The majority of Florida’s bioluminescent paddling takes place on the northern reaches of the Space Coast, famed for being home to Kennedy Space Center and its legendary missions to the great beyond.” “Another beloved area is The Indian River Lagoon, made up of three waterways: the Banana River, the Indian River and the aptly-named Mosquito Lagoon.” In the northeast, “North of St. Augustine in Ponte Vedra Beach, a destination synonymous with golf, you’ll find North Guana Outpost on Mickler Road.” On the Gulf side, a St. Petersburg outfitter “offers bioluminescent tours into Safety Harbor from late June through late August three to five nights a week.” The planner computes the moon for Titusville, Ponte Vedra Beach and Safety Harbor.
Worked examples (Space Coast)
The new moon, October 10, 2026. Fully dark from 8:17 PM to 6:03 AM, the moon 1% lit and down the whole time: 9 h 50 min of moon-free darkness, in the plankton’s peak months.
The full moon, October 26, 2026. The moon, 98% lit, is up before dark and stays up: moonlit, no moon-free darkness at all.
A half moon, October 17, 2026. The moon, 46% lit, sets at 12:04 AM: go after midnight for 6 h 5 min of moon-free darkness.
The new moon, January 7, 2027. Comb jelly season, and 10 h 50 min of full darkness with the moon down.
Safety
“Be sure to check the weather conditions and only go out when it is safe to do so – no thunderstorms and light winds.” “You also need to make sure you have safety equipment, including a PFD (personal flotation device) and proper lighting so that others can see you.” The plankton will not hurt you: “Thankfully, Pyrodinium bahamense does not cause any direct impacts to humans and you do not need to worry about health impacts of being on a boat or kayak in water with a bloom.” But “To protect human health, puffer fish harvesting is prohibited in the Indian River Lagoon.”
Common mistakes
- Booking the full moon. A full moon is up from dusk to dawn: the glow looks faint.
- Going right after sunset. The sky is not fully dark until well over an hour after sunset.
- Forgetting the moonset. A half moon that sets at midnight still leaves a dark second half of the night.
- Expecting the summer glow in winter. From November to May it is the comb jellies, a different light.
Plan the trip
Read Can You See Bioluminescence From the Beach in Florida?, then the hidden gems in Cocoa Beach and whether Cape Canaveral is worth visiting. For the famous bays, Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays. On the same trip: watch a launch from the Space Coast and check the tides.
FAQ
When is bioluminescence in Florida?
Glowing plankton from May through November in Central Florida, peaking June to October (UF/IFAS: blooms “from July-September”), and comb jellies from November through May. Either way, go on a dark night close to the new moon.
Where can you see bioluminescence in Florida?
Mostly on the Space Coast: the Indian River Lagoon’s Banana River, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, around Titusville, Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach. Also the Guana River near Ponte Vedra Beach and Safety Harbor on Tampa Bay.
What is the best time to see bioluminescence in Florida?
A night close to the new moon, after the sky is fully dark, in the plankton’s peak months (June to October) or in comb jelly season (November to May). The planner ranks the next 14 nights by their hours of darkness with the moon down.
Does the moon affect bioluminescence?
Yes: moonlight washes it out. UF/IFAS: “Too much light, whether from the moon or cities, will make it hard to see the bioluminescence.” Only in July and August is the plankton bright enough that “almost any night is fabulous”.
Is Florida bioluminescence safe to kayak in?
Yes, the plankton itself: “you do not need to worry about health impacts of being on a boat or kayak in water with a bloom.” Check the weather, wear a PFD and carry lights.