TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Sargassum Seaweed on Simpson Bay Beach Today

Never saw so much Sargassum Seaweed on SBB.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24895507@N06/35867980275/in/dateposted-public/

Wow!! Isn't that BSV on that beach to the right? Carol's photos certainly didn't show anything like that! I guess she and Eric left just in time! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Shocked.gif" alt="" />

Wow, that certainly does not look very nice.I have never seen it that bad on that beach. It looks like beaches that have not been affected in other years have lots of it this time.

That looks to be directly in front of El Zafiro. I hope it clears up. It became a favorite of ours last trip.

Impressive...

Beachside is immediately to the right, yes. There was no seaweed when we were there and we just left June 26. It sort of looks to be confined almost to in front of El Zafiro.

Benni--boy that looks bad. It almost looks clear in front of Beachside, or is that the angle?

Yikes we are going to Simpson bay resort next week

The seaweed is very thick and covers most of El Zafiro beach front. The area seems today to be confined to this end of SBB but BSV HAS LESS seaweed and it is being raked up as I write this report.iI wouldn't go swimming in the area today. It doesn't smell but is disgusting and hopefully the sea will pull it back out soon.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24895507@N06/35489489440/in/dateposted-public/

This is BSV today @9:25AM

OK, thanks for the updated picture. As you say, hopefully the ocean will carry it back out, as if it's hanging in the water like that, you can't really remove it and do any good.

So very sad to see this but appreciate the post.

A few years ago, we were arriving on our typical flight and well prior to landing but still in the immediate area of Anguilla and St Martin, we witnessed this through the clouds. You couldn't really tell what it was from so high up but as we came closer we thought at first it was some kind of a major fuel spill on the water, having never really seen or heard of the Sargasso phenom in regard to SXM. As we came very close we could see it was like a thick blanket of hay strewn across the water and in evidence everywhere we looked as we drew closer.

That trip we stayed a couple of weeks at the Towers and had no negative effects from the seaweed at Mullet Beach, but when we moved over for our final few days at Beachside Villas on Simpson Bay we were amazed at the length and depth of the seaweed in that area. No negatives towards BSV since this is Mother Nature at work. And to their absolute credit, they raked and bagged it every morning but you really couldn't enjoy the water at all along much of Simpson Bay - so disappointing - and we found ourselves still heading out to Mullet and Friars for our beach time. On this same trip we did an all day around the island sail and we were amazed at how much of the island was encompassed by this seaweed, and at the same time, some areas were totally devoid of it.

So very sad to see this again and so sorry for Nicole and her people at ElZafiro and for her guests, too. It really does look like a total mess there. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Once it starts to bake and rot in the sun it's going to be one disgusting stench.

Any pictures of Simpson Bay today? Wondering how seaweed is..Hopefully gone!

Do you have a picture of that area today? I am hoping that the winds and tide shift so that part of SBB is usable.

Thanks

Our kids just returned from Punta Cana and the entire beach where they stayed was unusable for the week they were there. They asked in advance and checked Trip Advisor and all the reports said there was no seaweed. It doesn't matter how often or who you ask. It is what it is depending on currents etc. We stayed on Orient in May and had 2 days where a "section" of the beach was unusable. At least we didn't lose the entire week. I think this is going to continue for some time.

It was forecast months ago that this year was going to be a very bad year throughout the Caribbean.

Some more Sargassumism.

https://www.caymancompass.com/2016/11/17/sargassum-threat-is-the-new-normal-for-caribbean/

Picture taken this morning of SBB. Unfortunately the Sargassum Seaweed is still here but somewhat less than yesterday.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24895507@N06/35747589822/in/dateposted-public/

Don't know if it's just my computer, but I can't get the picture to come up. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

I think it is your computer as I clicked on the link and it opened immediately.

The picture might be stored in your cache. Is anyone seeing the picture?

It looks like BSV is not too bad---Lucky!
They always clean it up immediately too.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I see it Carol.

How weird. I still can't see it, and I can see the earlier pictures fine.

Pic ok here....

How very weird! Now I can't get to any of the pictures!

Time to talk to the IT Department?

He's eating lunch at the moment! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

darn.......looks like both my resorts will be affected when we are there.

SBR is on the opposite side of Simpson Bay from where the seaweed is now; you probably won't have a problem there.

Today the seaweed is about 1/3 that it was yesterday. I think in a few days it will be history on SBB. Elzafiro beach is now 70% clear of seaweed as it is confined to the area by the steps at the far end of the beach.

Good to hear!

Picture taken 2:35 PM Today

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24895507@N06/35772089962/in/dateposted-public/

Looks much better! Thanks!

Good to know. Anything will be better than home!!!

Almost all the Sargassum Seaweed is gone on SBB today. Just a small patch on the far right side of the beach near the steps to Beacon Hill. El Zafiro has cleaned up most of the seaweed in their beach and BSV is all cleaned up too.

Good news! Thanks!