‘Beautiful part of the world’: Photographer captures rare ‘sea sparkle’ phenomenon in Tasmania

A beach in Tasmania’s north-west has been transformed into a sea of sparkling blue – a sight not dissimilar from the Northern Lights.

Bioluminescent algae has infiltrated Preservation Bay, lighting up the water and creating an incredible vision.

Photographer Brett Chatwin, of Chatwin Photography, captured the phenomenon, which happened just 10 minutes from his home.

“I live in a beautiful part of the world,” Mr Chatwin told 9news.com.au.

“I am a very passionate photographer and love promoting our wonderful little island.”

On Facebook Mr Chatwin said he was unsure if the phenomenon was just a “one-off”, but one of his followers was quick to clarify.

“(It happened at the) same time last year,” they wrote.

“On the Sunday night though. 13th March 2016 it was at Port Sorell. Not as much as this but we saw it. Beautiful.”

The algae thrives in calm, warm sea conditions and if undisturbed creates the glittering effect on the water’s surface, which also gives it the name “sea sparkle”.

A number of residents and passers-by were lucky enough to capture the phenomenon and took a series of incredible pictures, posting them onto social media.