TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Seaweed

We are arriving on SXM this Thursday for our first trip there. How is the seaweed around the island this week? I know that it can change day by day, with the current and the wind. Just wanted some advice on which beach we should visit first--calm and clean is what I am looking for. Thanks!

Just got back after four weeks. Never saw seaweed on Mullet. Nice beach area and mostly calm but can get rough depending on wind direction. Always had seaweed on Orient and the dock going to Pinel was horrible stretching out over 30 yards from shore with nothing on Pinel.

Thank you. We are staying at Royal Palm, Simpson Bay. From what I understand, everyone likes to travel to beaches other than their home resort. We've rented a car for the week, so we intend to explore. Just didn't want to plan a trip somewhere and then discover nasty seaweed upon arrival. Thank you.

Your sister resort Flamingo has a nice beach also without any seaweed problems the last four weeks we were there.

good to know, thank you!

"calm" depends on the day also. Mullet is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, but it can be crashing one day and dead flat calm the next day. Do take a ride around to see the various beaches. Not sure I would bother to go to the beach at Flamingo from Royal Palm, unless you want to use the pool also.

Granted the Flamingo beach area isn't as grand as some of the others but there is no charge for the loungers, umbrellas and Palapas for RP and Flamingo guests. With Toppers By the Sea and the food shake at the other end it is a nice relaxing swim beach with restrooms and showers.

If I were staying at Royal Palm--which we have done several times--I don't think the Flamingo beach is that much better. I would just stay at RP, and then I would be close to my room, for drinks and snacks. And while the beach is a little rocky in the water at RP, it is a lot less crowded than Flamingo beach. Even during Regatta, we were often able to get one of the shade palapas on the beach (without getting up at 0 dark thirty--or paying someone). I personally don't care much for Toppers either, but I guess I'm one of the few on the planet who doesn't like it.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> (I agree ... but, I used to love the one on Welfare Rd., near RP ... when it was Bananas <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" /> )

I liked Bananas too, except that it was always hot as hades in there, except in the front. I guess they have put a/c or some other ventilation in the back there now.

Just returned yesterday.

No seaweed at Mullet, Happy Bay, or Anse Marcel.

No seaweed at Shoal Bay Anguilla and it is beautiful. Some seaweed in water between St Martin and Anguilla and some seaweed on Anguilla beaches that face St Martin.

Little to no seaweed on the Club Orient end of Orient Beach. Moderate seaweed on the middle/north end of Orient Beach.

Little to no seaweed at Pinel. Ferry dock and Cul De Sac has high seaweed.

Dawn beach has high seaweed.

Thanks for the concise report!

How did you like it when you first opened your car door at Cul De Sac? My wife and guest just about lost it because of the smell of decaying seaweed.

Did not even have to open car door at the ferry dock, could smell it in the car. YUCK!

We are here staying at Belair (Little Bay). little sea weed on some days but nothing that impedes swimming. We can see patches in the middle of the ocean from our balcony but the bay must be protected enough that it doesn't seem to come in much if at all. The same for the beach at Divi.

We were at Dreams beach twice and there was a little but again nothing that would impede swimming.

Went to orient yesterday. Stayed close to Kakao and did not see any issues with seaweed.

Drove to Dawn bay and it was really bad there. every where you looked there are huge patches of it.

Stopped by Royal Palm/Flamingo beach today and no seaweed.

Stopped at Sunset Beach bar and no issues with seaweed.

We did see patches as we were approaching the island from the plane. My husband went diving today and he said there were patches of the sea weed but again it did not impede his diving.

Went to Cupecoy a couple of times and no evidence of sea weed there.
hope that helps.

Just left Grand Case Beach. No Seaweed.

Who will be responsible for the seaweed on the section of the beach being re-done north of Pedro's while construction is going on? We see all of the present operators cleaning the beach every morning before putting out the chairs for the day.

I don't think anyone knows that here. Plus, it's unclear to me anyway as to whether those vendors will be able to rent chairs or not. If they are able to rent chairs during the construction, it would be in their best interests to clear the seaweed. If they can't rent chairs there is zero incentive for them to clear seaweed..

Hope it doesn't accumulate like it is in Cul De Cac if they ignore it.

FYI. There is no seaweed in Maho nor in Philipsburg.

Dawn was loaded in November when we were there and still was about 3 weeks ago when my Daughter and SIL stayed at the Westin while attending a wedding.

Coralita Beach and Guana Bay both hit hard with Seaweed!

Your going to find that most beaches with an Eastern shore is going to have seaweed. Just depends if the vendors or resorts clean it up.

We were on the Club O section of Orient Beach on Sunday with no seaweed either in the water or on the beach. Went back today (Tuesday) and it was much breezier and there was a bit of seaweed rolling in. Went to Anse Marsel on Monday and it was clear with no evidence of seaweed. Looks like it changes on a day-to-day basis depending on wind and water conditions. We saw quite a bit of it out at sea upon landing this past Saturday.