Anse Crawen (Terre-de-Haut): today's sargassum
Clear
Clean
Anse Crawen closes the south-western tip of Terre-de-Haut, at the end of the coast road beyond the Bois Joli area. A small beach at the end of the line, well away from the harbour village.
The page gathers what the day looks like: sargassum at Anse Crawen right now, a 0 to 5 rating you can read at a glance, a map of Les Saintes and the island's other beaches for comparison. The survey is renewed each morning, ahead of swimming hours and well before the first walk down to the shore.
Anse Crawen on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Terre-de-Haut counts as an Atlantic-side island, though its beaches do not share the same exposure. Anse Crawen opens to the south, at the opposite end from the north-eastern faces that meet the trade winds first. High ground and the south-western point act as a screen: seaweed arriving here has had to round the island or ride in on a southerly swell.
That layout often makes the cove a useful fallback when the windward side is loaded, without ever guaranteeing anything. Southerly swells are less frequent but real during the arrival season, and they run straight into the bay. Its modest size then amplifies the effect: the limited stretch of sand covers quickly, and the daily rating can move within hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anse Crawen spared by sargassum?
Not reliably. Facing south keeps it clear of the dominant easterly flow, but a southerly swell enters the cove unobstructed. Exposure here depends on the direction the sea is running that day.
How do I check before walking out to the point?
The rating and map on this page are recalculated every morning. You will know whether the cove is clear, on a 0 to 5 scale, before taking the coast road all the way to Crawen.
Can I compare it with the island's north-eastern beaches?
Yes, and it helps. Pompierre, on the windward face, rarely reacts at the same time as Crawen. Reading both ratings gives a clear picture of conditions right around Terre-de-Haut.
Why does a small cove change appearance so fast?
Because the sand area is limited. A modest mat covers a large share of the shoreline, while the same quantity would go almost unnoticed along a long beach on Grande-Terre.