Wales is well known for its idyllic beaches, countryside and scenery - but its natural phenomena doesn't end there. Among the incredible sights you can see here are the luminous bioluminescent plankton that make the sea glow.
This natural phenomenon can be seen all across Wales at certain times of the year, notably at beaches in areas like Carmarthen, the Gower and Porthcawl.
Usually found in faraway tropical destinations like Thailand and Jamaica, the plankton are often spotted in the summer months in Wales, meaning we can see the mesmerising sight on our doorsteps if we're lucky enough to catch the sea at the right time.
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And some eagle-eyed enthusiasts did just that this week, decamping to some of our most popular beaches after dark and capturing some amazing photos of the plankton illuminating the sea in blue.
Thomas Winstone took this brilliant picture of the plankton in south Wales - and it really does look like something from the movies.
Richard Haynes also captured a couple of beautiful snaps of the plankton at the eastern stretch of Oxwich Bay between midnight and 3am on Friday morning.
While there is no concrete answer for what the best conditions to see plankton are, they appear to favour warm sea temperatures and clear, sunny days. However, the bioluminescence has also been spotted in heavy rain and thick fog.
For those looking, the plankton appear as a faint glow but can be stronger on some nights when the blue neon glow can be seen from as far as 100-200m away as the waves break or as you agitate the water by splashing or throwing in a pebble. Daniel Drewson got right among the action with this beautiful picture looking over from Three Cliffs Bay.
Stuart Williams also managed to get a glimpse of the plankton at work, which is usually spotted during astronomical twilight between 11pm and 3.30am in the UK in June and July (but they have been spotted later in the year too.) He photographed them from Caswell Bay. And Duane Evans also saw the mesmerising sight at Caswell Bay at 2am on Saturday.
With some of these pictures leaving us truly envious, we may have to venture out late in the night to see this amazing sight ourselves next time!
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