Seaweed

Just wondering how bad the seaweed is now. We were there last November and it was really bad on the French side. Especially Orient and Dawn beach areas. We are back there in two weeks and not sure what to expect. Really hoping to see the beautiful beaches that we are used to seeing. Does Mullet have seaweed as well?? Any info on the seaweed would be great. Thanks.

it comes and goes

Last week the seaweed was really bad on Orient beach past pedros all the way to the end. There was only one bad day in front of club orient.

Plenty from Mary's Boon past BSV with more coming.

Do you guys come to SXM regularly at this time of year? I really don't remember there being problems with seaweed this time of year before..

Last week, Orient had just a litle bit of seaweed one day, nothing to prevent swimming! Friday afternoon, a heavier load showed up in Simpson Bay. First time we've seen it there!

We are always in St.Martin in May for our timeshare weeks. We have never ever seen seaweed like this. We were on island in November and it was really bad then. Apparently all the islands in Caribbean are affected by this. Hope it clears up real soon. Not a lot of clean up happening either.

I was talking to a friend who recently returned from St. Vincent and I asked her if she saw a lot of the seaweed. She said there was a large amount out at sea, but they were lucky that it was not coming in onto the beaches.

Just got to the Westin yesterday. Looking down the beach at Dawn saw big machine on the beach scooping up seaweed. Still better than home!!!

Yes, Carol, we usually stayed a a place called The Caravanserai. Never again.

There was no seaweed at MB last week. It started on Sunday and has not let up

OK, hope the seaweed gives you a break!

No, there's no seaweed at Mullet. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! Good to know Mullet is seaweed free. Must be the only beach that has no seaweed. We will be arriving with four granddaughters , youngest is 14 months. So possibly Galion and Mullet are the only options.

NOt sure how one can compare Galion and Mullet. Mullet can be very very rough with a huge undertow. When we were there last month, there actually was a group of surfers actually surfing in the waves!!!! There was a huge dropoff also...so the riptide was huge with the waves bouncing back off the shelve that formed. Orient Beach is usally pretty calm.

Not really comparing beaches. We have been going to St. Martin over 20 years. Well aware of the conditions that can happen at Mullet. On calm days it is gorgeous there. Just thinking with a toddler and 3 older siblings, and not wanting them to actually see the sights at Orient Beach. Galion might be the beach to go to. They will only be on the island for 6 days. Our fave would be Orient.

Sunflower--kids are very adaptive. I don't think they will be scarred for life by seeing the 'sights' at Orient. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Exactly! And there are plenty of beach bars available on Orient that aren't within sight of the "sights".

Galion is a great beach for kids. Takes some of the stress of worrying about them (especially, the little one) getting knocked over by a wave. When you're only 2 feet tall; those little waves can be enormous!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Our plan was to go to the other side of Pedro's but I'm seeing reports of a lot of seaweed there. Hopefully it won't be an issue when we get there. Our girls are aged 14 mo. 7. 11. 12 years of age. The older girls would definitely not want to be on the nude side. Thanks for all the input. It will be a great Holliday with them. Lots to do with them.

Happy Bay while not a option for all, there was no (or past evidence of) any seaweed last week.

We stay at Mary's Boon fairly often and its rarely a problem., almost never. They did rake the beach from time to time but of course it comes right back but nothing like the real heavy seaweed they get on the other side of the island. Just a matter if time before its gone.

We have been staying at MB for 18 years and rarely had a seaweed problem. The last 9 days are an exception. Plenty has been raked, plenty waiting, and a lot more in the water.

The seaweed phenomenon last year and this is definitely unusual. A friend is on a cruise now and has been to St. Thomas and St. Kitts so far. I asked her and she says she has seen no seaweed at either of those two places. Apparently the winds and/or currents have been unfavorable to St. Martin for quite a while now.

It has been over 20 years since we have experienced the seaweed as bad as it has been the last to years on so many beaches in St. Maarten/St. Martin. Other islands we have visited don't seem to have any at present.

There has been a very serious change in the swell from the North Atlantic the last couple of weeks. Last night, the wind was out of the WEST! 269° magnetic. Meanwhile the swell seemed to be running from the Northeast. Simpson Bay Beach last week was covered in Sargasso grass. This week in St. Barth, they got it all over Shell Beach, which rarely sees any grass.

In addition, the waters have been very murky from Antigua, Barbuda and here as well. Not sure what is happening, but the grass is everywhere.

No seaweed at Baie Rouge on Sunday.

This was a recent photo posted on FB of the seaweed in Guadeloupe.

Wow, now that's gross!!

We have often seen seaweed at BSV in April. Usually I wake up to one of Yolanda's guys raking the beach. He collects bags of it. (I think it usually washes up during the night) He starts very early! By 6/before 6? I have to say I didn't see him this trip but perhaps that was because I slept in most mornings? Not sure. We have also seen iguanas hiding under the seaweed on the beach there.

I'm curious to know if you or any of the eco buffs out there know if this is also what is causing the nasty erosion on the beach at Maho. I haven't seen it this bad since the last major storm.

Was bad when we were there 4/25 - 4/29. We could actually see bands of it in the ocean as we were coming in. At first we thought they were sand bars, then I realized it was seaweed. We stayed by the pool for most of our trip as a result.

Been at CO for several days, clean as a whistle. Only small bits further up the beach at least to Kakao. The water is clear too, at least down here.

No seaweed today as the strong winds have blown it all away. The beach at CO was great as low turn out for Mothers Day was the call today.
The wind was strong and you were sand blasted all afternoon except for the small time the rain shower passed through.

But a day on CO with wind and rain is a better day that elsewhere!
:groovin

Lots of weeds off shore. Nothing at Flamingo/SBM beach today.

How about the Westin?