Sargassum at Pointe Marin (Sainte-Anne): today's beach report
Clear
Clean, hit it
Pointe Marin sits beside the village of Sainte-Anne on Martinique's Caribbean shore, looking west across the bay that runs up towards Le Marin. Shops and the village square are a short walk from the sand, which makes it one of the busiest seaside stops in the south of the island.
This page tracks sargassum at Pointe Marin day by day: what the beach looks like now, a 0 to 5 rating that puts the nuisance in perspective, and a map for comparing nearby spots. It is reviewed each morning, so you get a reading for today instead of a seasonal average.
Pointe Marin on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Orientation is the key fact here. Pointe Marin opens west onto the Caribbean Sea, on the sheltered side of the island. Sargassum travels east to west with the trade winds and meets the Atlantic coasts first, wrapping around headlands only afterwards. A west facing beach therefore sits in the lee of that path and receives a smaller share of what lands on the commune's southeastern shores.
Smaller does not mean none. During heavy influxes, part of the weed rounds the southern point and drifts into the bay, where sheltered water stirs less and can hold it close to shore. Because the sand borders the village, any deposit is noticed quickly by the people using it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pointe Marin badly exposed to sargassum?
Less than the Atlantic beaches nearby. It faces west on the Caribbean side, in the lee of rafts driven by the trade winds. Deposits still happen when large volumes round the southern point and enter the bay.
How do I check the beach before heading down?
The FanGass map gives Pointe Marin a 0 to 5 rating every morning. Check it before you set off and you will know whether swimming looks fine or whether another beach is the better call today.
Why can the bay hold weed once it arrives?
Sheltered water moves less than an exposed shore worked by swell. Sargassum that drifts in may sit near the waterline instead of being carried back out, and decomposition then becomes noticeable sooner.
Which beaches should I compare it with?
The Atlantic sites in the same commune, such as Anse Trabaud and Cap Chevalier, behave very differently. Reading their ratings alongside Pointe Marin shows how the seaweed is spread around Sainte-Anne today.