Sargassum at Coki Beach (Coki Point): the day's status
Clear
All good
Coki Beach is a small, lively cove on the north-eastern tip of St Thomas, famous for water so clear that fish swirl around swimmers a few steps from the sand. It is compact, sociable and busy from mid-morning onwards.
This page keeps track of sargassum right here: every morning the latest satellite imagery is analysed and the cove gets a 0 to 5 rating along with its sector map. Handy for deciding between a snorkel session at Coki or a fallback to a leeward bay.
Coki Beach (Coki Point) on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Coki looks due north, at the mouth of the passage running along the north-east coast of St Thomas. That position puts it in the lane of mats drifting east to west with the trades: the island's bulk offers no screen here, and the beach is classed among the exposed shores, alongside nearby Sapphire Beach.
Its size changes how events play out compared with the big bays: the cove is short, so even a modest arrival can carpet it at once, and a clean-up can clear it just as fast. Conditions flip quickly in both directions, which makes the morning reading especially valuable at this spot.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still watch the fish when sargassum is about?
It hinges on the day's rating. Low means the usual glassy water; mid-range can bring surface strands in places, especially off the point. The morning reading settles it.
Do Coki Beach and Sapphire Beach react the same way?
Both count among the sector's exposed beaches, but Coki faces north while Sapphire faces north-east: depending on a raft's drift angle, one can be hit hours before the other.
Where should I go if the cove is clogged?
Cross to the lee of St Thomas: Magens Bay or Lindbergh Bay generally offer a cleaner waterline on days when the exposed side is taking an arrival.
Why do conditions change so fast at Coki?
The beach is short: a few dozen metres of weed are enough to cover it, and a clean-up or a simple reversal of the current frees it just as quickly.
Which months call for the most caution?
The window from spring to late summer concentrates most arrivals across the archipelago. For the rest of the year, flagged days are the exception on this coast.