Sargassum at Hog Hole Beach, the Devil's Bridge cove
Clear
Chill, go
Hog Hole Beach is a pocket cove of barely 117 metres on Antigua's east coast, about a hundred metres from the Devil's Bridge viewpoint, near the village of Willikies. Most people scramble down after visiting the viewpoint, between two bursts of Atlantic swell.
This page keeps watch on the shoreline for you: its 0 to 5 score is recalculated every morning, together with a map placing the cove in the eastern sector. One glance tells you whether the sand is clean, whether strands are drifting past the rocks or whether a mat settled in overnight.
Hog Hole Beach (Devil's Bridge) on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
The cove faces east, its axis pointing to 110 degrees, right at the boundary between east and south-east, with open water from east round to south-east. On this windward shore, Hog Hole is among the very first landing points for Atlantic drift, in the same zone as Long Bay, the broad north-east facing bay served by the same village.
Size is what sets it apart from its neighbours: 117 metres of sand wedged between rock, where Long Bay or Half Moon Bay can spread a landing over far greater distances. A handful of rafts is enough to carpet the whole cove, yet a few hours of lively sea can sweep it clear again. The Devil's Bridge viewpoint nearby even lets you judge the water before climbing down.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hog Hole Beach get hit early by sargassum?
Yes. It opens onto the Atlantic on Antigua's windward coast, with clear water from east to south-east, so drift pushed by the trade winds reaches this shore among the first on the island.
Can I check conditions from Devil's Bridge?
The viewpoint overlooks the coast about a hundred metres from the cove, so you can see the waterline. The quicker option is the FanGass rating at the top of this page, scored from 0 to 5 and refreshed each morning.
Where should I go if the cove is covered?
Long Bay, in the same village of Willikies, is far larger and dilutes a deposit better, but it sits on the same windward side. For real shelter, cross to the Caribbean coast or the bays around English Harbour.