Sargassum at Anse Maréchal: today's cove report
Light
A few patches
Anse Maréchal is a small cove on the north-eastern shore of St Barthelemy, right beside Grand Cul-de-Sac. The strip of shore is short and lined with rock, and most people come to look at the bottom with a mask and snorkel rather than settle in for a full day.
The tracker below reports sargassum at Anse Maréchal as observed: a 0 to 5 rating, a map of the cove and the water around it, and a refresh each morning. On a beach this small, the reading for the day matters even more than usual.
Anse Maréchal on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
The cove opens to the north-east, on the windward side of the island, in line with the trade winds that push sargassum mats in from open water. Like its larger neighbour, it sits on the side where arrivals show up first. It has no wide lagoon in front of it to soften what comes in, so material reaches the shore more directly.
Scale shapes the impression too. Across a few dozen metres of sand and pebble, an amount of weed that would go unnoticed on a long beach covers a visible share of the shoreline, and in a confined space the smell registers sooner. The rocky bottom that makes snorkelling worthwhile also traps strands between the boulders. The morning rating gives the real measure before you head down.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anse Maréchal more exposed than Grand Cul-de-Sac?
They share the same north-east aspect facing the trades. Anse Maréchal, though, has no broad lagoon in front of it, so what arrives reaches the shore more directly and across a much shorter stretch.
How do I check the cove before coming with mask and fins?
The 0 to 5 rating and the map on this page are updated every morning. On a cove this size a quick read is enough to decide whether the trip is worth making.
Why does a small amount of weed show up so clearly here?
Because the shoreline is short. Weed that would spread out unnoticed along a long beach covers a real share of the sand here, and the rocky bottom catches strands between the boulders.
Where can I go nearby when the cove is loaded?
Grand Cul-de-Sac is next door but shares the windward exposure. For a genuine contrast, aim for the western side, around Shell Beach or Colombier, and compare the ratings for the day.