The large seaweed belt originates off the coast of West Africa and is moved by ocean currents towards the Americas These macroalgae find conditions to grow due to the precipitation of dust from the Sahara desert and the nutrients they find on their way to the Caribbean3 days ago
Why is seaweed so bad in Cancun?
The worst time for seaweed in Cancun, the Dominican Republic and much of the Caribbean is during the summer months The main problems are the erosion of its beaches and the influx of sargassum seaweed along the coast
Why are Cancun beaches full of seaweed?
Other sources of nutrients include Saharan dust coming from Africa The seaweed is moved from the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt to Mexico and the Caribbean region by hitching a ride on currents As it makes it way along these streams, the sargassum picks up more and more nutrients and continues to grow
Is the seaweed still bad in Cancun?
Will The Seaweed Ruin My Vacation To Cancun? For most people the answer is no Many tourists on the beach went about their vacation like any other day There are still beautiful areas of the water free from the floating seaweed that are great for swimming
Does Cancun still have a seaweed problem 2021?
The ships including 4 ocean sweepers are currently operating in the ocean waters surrounding Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum As of May 31, 2021 over 10 thousand tons of seaweed have been removed from the ocean and beaches in 7 municipalities around Quintana Roo
What months is seaweed bad in Cancun?
From October to May to avoid seaweed If you want to dip into sargassum-free beaches, the best season is from October to May Fun Fact: Some resorts like Seadust Cancun have made efforts to keep the seaweed from arriving at the shore by implementing a marine-life-friendly barrier
Which beach in Mexico has no seaweed?
Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres and Other Beaches Without Seaweed in Mexico If you have your heart set on visiting Mexico’s Caribbean coast, it’s still possible to find beaches with no sargassum seaweed along this vast coastline
Is it safe to swim in sargassum?
Sargassum presents risks to human health as well In the water, it’s harmless to humans, but the trouble begins once it lands on the beach and starts to decompose Breathing in these toxic gases may cause respiratory, skin and neurocognitive symptoms in people that come in close contact with degrading sargasso
How do I get rid of seaweed sargassum?
Sargassum in shallow waters can be removed “using reinforced fishing nets – either toed by light boats or by hand in very shallow waters On Isla Bonita, Belize, volunteers devised a unique method of using a seine net to harvest the floating sargassum out of the water” (Hinds et al, 2016)
Why does sargassum happen?
Climate change-driven downpours increase runoff Saharan dust clouds that extend for thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean have also contributed to this explosion of sargassum seaweed The dust contains iron, nitrogen and phosphorus that fertilizes plankton and seaweed blooms
Why is the water so blue in Cancun?
The waters around Cancun have phytoplankton and other organisms that whale sharks and other plankton-feeding fish live on, so the water takes on a slightly greenish-blue color The Caribbean Sea is a relatively shallow body of water, and especially around the coast of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico
Are there shark attacks in Cancun?
There are, in fact, sharks in Cancun, but this is not a common occurrence, nor is it something worth worrying about If you are worried about shark attacks on your Cancun vacation, you don’t have to worry any longer
What happens to seaweed on the beach?
Seaweed floats ashore due to strong easterly winds and dips in the Gulf Stream, creating a dumping effect on our beaches with mounds of seaweed arriving virtually overnight This seaweed can trap unwanted trash on the beach and degrade conditions for visitors and for marine wildlife
Why is there a seaweed problem in Mexico?
Since 2011, vast quantities have washed up on Caribbean coastlines, from the Lesser Antilles to Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula In the open ocean, massive rafts of it keep sunlight from reaching coral reefs; as it decays, the seaweed releases compounds that harm marine life
Is the seaweed bad in Playa del Carmen?
I’ll be honest, the seaweed situation in Playa del Carmen can be bad Like REALLY BAD At its worst, there can be mountainous piles of coarse brown sargassum on the beaches with an overpowering rotten eggs smell that makes you want to hold your breath
Are Cancun beaches swimmable?
Cancun offers a few “Blue Flag” rated beaches These are safe beaches for swimming They also offer disabled friendly access to the water
Why does seaweed wash up on shore?
Small quantities of sargassum have always turned up as “beach wrack” – stuff that washes ashore It stabilizes shorelines by helping to build sand dunes and nourishes dune plants For these reasons, it’s left to naturally decompose in wild areas, such as Cape Florida State Park
Where does the seaweed in Cancun come from?
This seaweed is also known as ‘Sargazo’ or ‘Sargassum’, it supposedly comes from the Sargazo Sea in the Atlantic Ocean The sargazo is dragged along with the ocean current, to the coasts of some Caribbean countries, including our state of Quintana Roo
Does Maroma beach have seaweed?
Secrets Maroma have staff that manage the seaweed on the beach, sometimes throughout the day, but of course there can be weeds in the water It is a very pretty beach regardless over a year ago
Are Cancun beaches full of seaweed?
Seaweed on Quintana Roo beaches, between moderate and minimal According to the latest report from the Sargasso Monitoring Network in Quintana Roo, there are still 12 beaches with moderate sargassum deposits, mainly in Playa del Carmen, and 48 others have minimal levels
Which beach has the clearest water in Mexico?
Marama Beach has the clearest water in Mexico – Picture of El Dorado Maroma, Playa Maroma
Where can I go in Mexico without seaweed?
Here, we’ve collected the best seaweed-free beaches in Mexico so you can make the most of your summer vacation 01 of 10 Isla Mujeres © Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images 02 of 10 Cozumel 03 of 10 Isla Contoy 04 of 10 Holbox 05 of 10 Cancun 06 of 10 Isla Blanca 07 of 10 Cenotes 08 of 10 Kaan Luum