Sargassum at Simpson Bay: today's state of the south shore
Clear
Chill
Simpson Bay runs as a long arc of sand along the south coast of Sint Maarten, between the airport and the channel that links the lagoon to the sea. This is the Caribbean side of the island. The page follows sargassum at Simpson Bay: the state recorded this morning, a rating from 0 to 5, and a map of the southern bays.
Readings are refreshed at the start of each day. You can see at a glance whether the bay is clear, whether weed has settled on part of the shore, and how the neighbouring beaches are doing on the same date. The notes below explain what the shape of the bay changes.
Simpson Bay on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Facing due south on the Caribbean shore, Simpson Bay stays out of the main flow: easterly trade winds carry sargassum rafts onto the Atlantic side of Saint-Martin, on the far coast. Anything that reaches here has already wrapped around the island, usually in smaller volume and later in an episode.
The length of the bay then works in your favour. Spread along a wide arc of sand, the same quantity of weed forms thin bands instead of piling into a closed cove: one section can be loaded while the rest of the beach stays walkable. The lagoon behind the road is a separate body of water, joined to the sea by a narrow channel, and it does not read like the open shoreline.
Frequently asked questions
Does Simpson Bay get much sargassum?
Rarely in bulk. Its southern, Caribbean-facing aspect keeps it off the direct path of trade-driven rafts. Visible episodes here usually come from weed that has drifted around the southern end of the island.
How do I check the bay before settling in for the day?
Use the FanGass map at the top of this page. It updates every morning and gives Simpson Bay a rating from 0 to 5, so you leave knowing what the sand looks like today.
Is the whole beach affected at once?
Not usually. The arc is long and weed tends to land in bands, so a walk of a few hundred metres along the shore often finds a clearer stretch of sand.
Which nearby beaches should I compare on the same day?
Mullet Bay and Cupecoy to the west, Great Bay and Little Bay to the east, all on the same southern shore. The map shows them together, which makes the choice quick.