Sargassum at Anse Marcel: how the beach looks today
Clear
Clean
Anse Marcel sits at the far north of Saint-Martin, on the French side, tucked into a deep notch between two wooded headlands. One road drops down to it from the ridge, and the beach lines the back of the cove, in front of the marina basin.
We follow sargassum at Anse Marcel day by day: a 0 to 5 rating, a description of what has been recorded on the sand, and a map for comparing the cove with other beaches on the island. The update lands each morning, ahead of beach hours.
Anse Marcel on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
The cove opens north on the Caribbean flank, turning its back on the easterly trades, which hit the hills before they ever reach the shore. Rafts carried by that easterly flow tend to pass offshore of the island's northern tip rather than swing in, and that is the main reason this shoreline sees less weed than the Atlantic coast.
The northern exposure is the thing to watch. A swell rolling down the Anguilla channel can push floating weed into the notch, where the narrow shape of the bay and the tight entrance to the marina limit the mixing. What comes in leaves slowly and settles at the head of the cove, on the busiest stretch of sand.
Frequently asked questions
Does Anse Marcel get much sargassum?
Much less than the east coast: the cove faces north and sits behind hills that block the trade winds. The real risk here is a northerly swell, which can carry floating weed straight into the bay.
How do I check conditions before driving down?
Open the FanGass page for Anse Marcel in the morning: a 0 to 5 rating, a summary of what was recorded and an island map, all refreshed before the beach hours of the day start.
Why does weed sometimes linger in the cove?
The bay is deep and narrow, with a tight channel into the marina basin. Water turns over slowly, so anything pushed in by a northerly swell can sit at the head of the cove for days.
Which nearby beaches should I check the same day?
Stay on the north-west flank: Baie de Grand-Case, Friar's Bay and Happy Bay share the same shelter from the trades. Their daily ratings appear on the same FanGass map for the island.