The source of our “living lights”—bioluminescence—is dinoflagellates,  single-celled organisms common in marine environments. Each bioluminescent dinoflagellate flashes only a fraction of a second when disturbed by water movement, but its high concentrations in the warm Indian River water create beautiful bluish-white trails of light caused by swimming fish and paddling kayakers. A swimming manatee may be completely concealed in a spectacular, other-worldly cloud of “living light!” Upon arriving at the park, check in with the trip leaders which includes signing a mandatory release of liability and assumption of risk form. You will be outfitted with a life jacket, kayak, and paddle. After some brief instruction, we will paddle as a group in search of the “living lights.” Most tours last a couple of hours, however, if the bioluminescence is super bright and dolphins or manatee show up on the scene, well . . . time just doesn’t matter.