Sargassum at Maho Beach: today's beach report
Clear
Clean
Maho Beach lines the south-west coast of Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of the island, right at the end of the Princess Juliana airport runway. This page gives the sargassum situation at Maho Beach for the day: what is on the sand, a rating from 0 to 5 and a map.
The data is renewed every morning. Today's level comes with the recent trend and the neighbouring beaches around Simpson Bay, enough to shape the day before you head down to the waterfront rather than simply turning up and hoping for the best.
Maho Beach on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Maho Beach looks south-west, on the Caribbean face of the island. Sargassum comes across from the Atlantic on the easterly trades, which meet Sint Maarten on the far side, so this beach sits out of the main flow and sees landings far less often than the eastern shores of the Dutch side.
Its real exposure is a different one: westerly swell in season, and a shore break that can be lively along a short strip of sand pinned between the water and the runway. None of that removes the need to check. Weed can round the southern points during a wide episode, and on a beach this narrow even a modest line of it takes up the room.
Frequently asked questions
Does sargassum affect Maho Beach?
Rarely in any serious way. Facing south-west on the Caribbean coast, it sits in the lee of the trade winds that carry the rafts, and the eastern beaches of Sint Maarten take the bulk of the arrivals.
How do I check Maho Beach before going?
The FanGass map is updated each morning and gives Maho Beach a rating from 0 to 5. That tells you what has been observed on the sand here and along the neighbouring south-coast beaches.
Do the low-flying planes change anything for seaweed?
Not at all. The beach owes its fame to the runway that ends beside it, not to water conditions. What matters for weed is the strip itself: it is narrow, so even a small deposit fills the usable space.
Which beaches should I compare with Maho?
Mullet Bay and Simpson Bay run along the same south-west shore and share the same shelter. On the opposite side, beaches on the island's eastern face often show higher ratings on the very same day.