Sargassum at Anse Maurice (Petit-Canal): today's conditions
Light
Moderate
Anse Maurice is a small sandy bay in Petit-Canal, on the northern shoulder of Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe. It belongs to the island's Atlantic side, yet the cove itself opens west, and that single detail changes how sargassum behaves here.
This page reports today's conditions at Anse Maurice: a rating from 0 to 5, a plain description of the shoreline, and the sargassum map for northern Grande-Terre. It is rebuilt every morning, so you can look before breakfast and drive out knowing what to expect. Nothing here is a forecast for next week; it is what the shoreline looks like now.
Anse Maurice on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Aspect matters as much as which coast a beach sits on. Anse Maurice turns its back on the easterly trades, so rafts pushed toward the Antilles hit the windward shores of eastern Grande-Terre first and have to wrap around the island's northern point to reach this bay. Exposure here is markedly lower than at Le Moule or Saint-François, only a short drive away.
The flip side is that this is an enclosed cove framed by headlands, opening onto the quiet water of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin. Whatever weed does drift in tends to linger, because the bay flushes gently rather than being scoured by swell. Low exposure, slow clearing: two good reasons to read the morning rating instead of assuming.
Frequently asked questions
Does Anse Maurice get sargassum?
Less than the east coast. The cove faces west, away from the trade winds, and arrivals must round the northern tip of Grande-Terre to get in. Light episodes still happen from time to time.
How do I check the beach before visiting?
The FanGass map publishes a daily rating for Anse Maurice, from 0 to 5, plus a note on the state of the sand. It is recalculated each morning, so look when you wake up.
Why does weed sometimes sit in the bay?
Headlands close the cove and water movement inside is gentle. A modest amount that drifts in on a swelly day can stay put for several days instead of being carried straight back out.
What other beaches are nearby?
Northern Grande-Terre has a run of west-facing coves around Port-Louis and Anse-Bertrand. They share the same shelter from the trades but differ in shape and depth, and their daily ratings differ too.