Sargassum at Dickenson Bay (Antigua): today's report
Clear
Pristine, dive in
Dickenson Bay stretches for roughly eight hundred metres along Antigua's north-western shore, in McKinnon's, a short drive north of St John's. Lined with hotels and busy in every season, it is the island's classic resort beach and often the first stop for new arrivals.
Choose your spot already knowing the score: each morning brings the 0 to 5 rating, the western sector map and a compact satellite bulletin that settles whether the shoreline is clean, something drifts at sea or a landing has started.
Dickenson Bay Beach on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Facing north-west over the Caribbean Sea, Dickenson Bay belongs to Antigua's leeward shore, the side the easterly trade winds never hit head-on. Rafts carried across the Atlantic make landfall on the windward coast first, around Long Bay and Half Moon Bay; to reach this sand they must travel around the whole island.
The bay is not sealed off, though. Its north-westerly opening lets in patches drifting along the north coast whenever the wind swings around. Runaway Beach, its immediate neighbour to the south, shares the same set-up, which is why the two beaches almost always move in step from one morning to the next.
Frequently asked questions
Does sargassum often reach Dickenson Bay?
Not often compared with the Atlantic side. Tucked on the leeward coast, the bay sits away from the main flow pushed by the trades; episodes here tend to be short and tied to occasional coastal drift.
How do I check this morning's conditions?
The rating at the top of the page runs from 0 (clear sand) to 5 (heavy landing). It is recalculated every morning from the latest satellite passes, sector by sector, so one glance is enough.
Do Dickenson Bay and Runaway Beach behave the same way?
Nearly always. They sit side by side on the same north-western shore and belong to the same monitored sector, so when one starts collecting weed the other deserves a quick look too.
Which months call for extra attention?
Caribbean arrivals cluster roughly from April to August. Even then, the bay's sheltered position keeps most deposits small, and the morning rating is usually all you need to plan the day.