We arrived at the Muelle Cana and made our way carefully to the end of the dilapidated pier. We used the dive light to scan the dark waters for large predators, but instead discovered brilliant green needlefish and small squid hunting at the surface. Deeming the water safe, we dove, swam, gazed at stars and expended time before the final outing of the evening.
After yet another treacherous drive along a severely contoured dirt path, we arrived at the bioluminescent bay. The hour was ideal, as the final tour for the night had concluded, and our friend Rick was loading the last of his kayaks onto the Island Adventures van. He assured us that it was a good night for a swim in the bio bay; clear yet moonless. Once more, we rid ourselves of our worldly materials and entered the water.
A tour of the bio bay by boat or kayak is preferable to walking and swimming if only for the mud. The bio bay is ringed with mangrove forest, and constant decomposition creates a bottom that is unpleasant to walk across, to say the least. However, the magic of this experience far outweighs a little mud.
Your every movement in this enchanted bay causes an explosion of brilliant green flashes, the result of tiny organisms and a chemical process that causes them to emit light when disturbed. Every stroke or step creates trails of glowing color. Small fish dart away and appear as shooting stars.
The best experience is just to float on your back and slowly paddle yourself along. It is nearly impossible to divide your attention between the clouds of stars above you, and the brilliant glowing waters all around. On a clear night as this, the dozens of actual meteorites only highlight this transcendental experience.
Our tour was brief, but long enough to leave the Argentines, first-timers, captivated and entranced by the bio bay.
We returned to Casa Buen Aire, and slept a sleep worthy of this day's adventures.
It was a day like any other.
