Sargassum at Indigo Bay: the daily picture
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Indigo Bay lies on the southwestern shore of Sint Maarten, on the Dutch side, on the slope that drops to the sea west of Philipsburg. Before you drive down, this page gives the day's observed condition for the beach, a 0 to 5 sargassum rating and a map of the surrounding coast.
Everything is refreshed each morning, so the picture matches today rather than a visitor's photo from a month ago. The section below sets out where the bay sits, how its southwest opening works in practice, and what changes during an active arrival season.
Indigo Bay on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
A southwest aspect puts Indigo Bay on the leeward, Caribbean flank of the island. Sargassum travels with the easterly trade winds, so the Atlantic shores a few kilometres away take the first contact, and the central ridge screens most of what would otherwise carry across to the southern coastline.
Coves along this shore do not all behave alike. The coast here strings together short bays separated by rocky points, and that shape channels the chop. When drifting weed works its way along the shoreline on the inshore current, it can gather in one corner of the bay while the rest of the sand stays clear. The daily rating describes the bay as a whole rather than one specific stretch of it.
Frequently asked questions
How exposed is Indigo Bay to sargassum?
Less than the island's east coast. It opens southwest on the leeward side, while the trade winds drive the rafts onto Atlantic-facing shores. Episodes here are usually short rather than continuous.
How do I check Indigo Bay before I go?
The FanGass map gives Indigo Bay a 0 to 5 rating with the observed condition, updated every morning. Look on the day itself, since conditions on this coast can shift within two or three days.
How does it compare with Cay Bay next door?
Both coves face southwest and share the same shelter, but they differ in width and depth. Weed can be obvious in one and barely noticeable in the other on the very same morning.
What if the rating is high on the day I planned?
Either pick another cove on the south coast, where the morning rating may be lower, or push the outing back a day. The map lets you compare nearby beaches side by side.