KNYSNA NEWS - Mother nature was out to paint the town red this past weekend, with the public spotting the red tide in the coastal waters around Knysna.

If you visited the beach this weekend you might have noticed a colder feel to the water, and don't worry this wasn't just your imagination. For those unfamiliar with the term, ‘red tide’ is the common name for a phenomenon known as an algae bloom.

These are large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms, known as dinoflagellates, that can become so dense that the colour of the water appears red or brown. 

The blooms are caused by ocean upwelling, which are brought on by the prevailing easterly winds at certain times of the year along our coastline.

Upwelling brings cold water and the dinoflagellate cells to warmer surface waters. The combination of warmth and sunlight causes the cells to bloom. 

In most cases, these blooms are naturally occurring events and do occur when conditions are favourable. Whale-watching tour agency Ocean Odyssey spotted an instance of red tide between Knysna and Buffalo Bay while conducting one of their tours this weekend.

This weekend's algae bloom wasn't limited to Knysna though, as it was spotted in other parts of the Garden route too, such as Mossel Bay.

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