The effects of irradiance on the growth of toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense (Masan Bay strain) and Alexandrium catenella (Jinhae Bay strain) were investigated in the laboratory. At 15℃ and 30 psu for A. tamarense and 25℃ and 30 psu for A. catenella, the irradiance-growth curve showed the maximum growth rate (μmax) of 0.31 day-1 with half-saturation photon flux density (PFD) (KI) of 44.53 μmol m-2 s-1, and a compensation PFD (Ic) was 20.67 μmol m-2 s-1 for A. tamarense, and μmax of 0.38 day-1 with KI of 59.53 μmol m-2 s-1, and Ic was 40.80 μmol m-2 s-1 for A. catenella. The Ic equated to a depth of 8~9 m from March to June for A. tamarense and 6~7 m from March to June for A. catenella. These responses suggested that irradiance at the depth near the middle layer in Masan Bay would provide favorable conditions for two species.