Sargassum at Plage des Grandes Cayes: today's report
Light
Light presence
Plage des Grandes Cayes lies on the north-east coast of French Saint-Martin, along a wild stretch of shoreline inside the national nature reserve. This page carries the sargassum picture at Grandes Cayes for the day: what has landed, a rating from 0 to 5 and a map of the zone.
The reading is redone each morning. It sets out the current level and how it has moved, and it lets you compare with other beaches in the sector before driving out to a piece of coast with little in the way of services.
Plage des Grandes Cayes on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
A north-east aspect puts Grandes Cayes squarely on the Atlantic side, facing the quarter the trades blow from. The beach is not quite due east, which makes it slightly less head-on than the bays further down the coast, yet it takes rafts as soon as an easterly or north-easterly flow sets in. Islets and shallows lying offshore bend the paths weed follows, so two neighbouring beaches can read differently on the same morning.
The site belongs to the nature reserve and carries no heavy development. Regular mechanical collection is not to be expected: what strands here breaks down in place or leaves with the sea. That is also why the level can differ from a town beach groomed every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grandes Cayes heavily exposed to sargassum?
Yes. The beach opens onto the Atlantic with a north-east aspect, in line with the trade winds. It picks up rafts as soon as an easterly or north-easterly flow settles in, like the rest of this coast.
How do I check before driving out to Grandes Cayes?
The FanGass map, refreshed every morning, gives this beach a rating from 0 to 5 for the day. One look before you leave saves a pointless trip to a shoreline this far out.
Are there facilities or beach cleaning here?
The beach sits inside the nature reserve and has no development. Bring shade, water and a bag for your rubbish, and do not expect mechanical clearing of stranded weed after an arrival.
Where else can I try nearby on a heavy day?
The Anse Marcel area and the leeward bays on the west coast are the logical fallbacks from Grandes Cayes. Check their ratings for the day first, since levels vary noticeably from one cove to another.