Rare algae bloom turns waters near Sydney's Bondi Beach blood red

November 27, 2012 – AUSTRALIA – Tourists heading for world-famous Bondi Beach were left high and dry today after a rare natural phenomenon turned the water blood red. Bondi was among several popular beaches in and around Sydney, Australia, which had to be closed after a huge algae bloom transformed the sea into something resembling a scene from a Jaws movie. But despite the warnings a number of intrepid beachgoers were seen venturing into the water and swimming through the red surface, Ten News Sydney reported. Known as Nocturnal Scintillans or sea sparkle it has no toxic effects but people are still advised to avoid swimming in areas with discoloured water because the algae, which can be high in ammonia, can cause skin irritation. British tourists were among large groups of visitors who were told by lifeguards not to enter the water until the all-clear was given because the algae can irritate the skin and cause other health problems. Ken Roberts, 23, from Birmingham, England said: ‘Perhaps I’m just in the wrong country – I thought the Red Sea was somewhere in Asia.’ Local lifeguard Bruce Hopkins said: ‘It has quite a fishy smell to it. ‘It makes the water look like it has a coating of tomato-sauce coloured oil.’ The algae has already disappointing thousands who had headed to the coast to cool off as the summer Down Under finally gets under way of a prolonged cold period. The New South Wales (NSW) Office of Water has been carrying out a series of tests to discover what caused the bloom. One theory is that it was caused by an upwelling of colder nutrient-rich water. –Daily Mail

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