Sargassum at Little Bay (Klein Baai): this morning's state
Clear
Go for it
Little Bay, or Klein Baai, is a short cove west of Philipsburg, on the headland crowned by the ruins of Fort Amsterdam. It looks south-west, on the Caribbean side of Sint Maarten. This page tracks sargassum at Little Bay: a morning reading, a rating from 0 to 5, and a map of the southern bays.
The check is redone each morning. A cove this size changes appearance quickly, and yesterday's picture says little about today, which is why the daily rating comes first and the map second, to see whether the nearby bays tell the same story.
Little Bay (Klein Baai) on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Little Bay holds a short run of sand between two rises of land, open to the south-west. That bearing shelters it from the easterly trade winds that drive sargassum towards Saint-Martin, since the bulk of the drift passes along the Atlantic-facing side, on the opposite flank of the island.
The trade-off is one of scale. In a cove this compact, a modest patch of weed covers a visible share of the shoreline straight away, while the same amount would barely register along the arc of Simpson Bay. The headland dividing it from Great Bay counts too: the two neighbours do not always look alike on the same morning, so comparing both ratings on the map is worth the extra second.
Frequently asked questions
Does Little Bay get hit hard by sargassum?
Its south-west opening shields it from the easterly flow that carries rafts to the other side of the island. The cove is small, though, so any weed that arrives shows up immediately.
How do I check Little Bay on the day?
The FanGass map on this page refreshes each morning and gives the cove a rating from 0 to 5. One look tells you whether to head down here or pick another bay.
Are Little Bay and Great Bay usually the same?
Often similar, not reliably identical. A headland separates them and each takes the swell at a different angle. The map carries both ratings for the day, so there is no need to assume.
When is the risk highest at this cove?
Caribbean arrivals build from spring into autumn, with May to September the heavier stretch. On this sheltered cove the scale stays smaller, though a daily check still makes sense in those months.