Ocean spray rainbows are formed by the same light paths of the sun through rain drops that create a rainbow. With the ocean spray, the sun passes through the mist from the spay and forms the bow.

There are numerous things along the coast that causes the ocean to create spray, the prime one being the waves hitting some object in the water such as rocks, piers, the shoreline or just the wave crashing back into the water.

The key to viewing an ocean spray bow is to be near the ocean, either on the coast or on a boat. Bright sunshine to your back is necessary as is something in the water that causes the ocean to spray the water upwards into the air.