Sargassum at Volleyball Beach (Stocking Island): today's conditions
Clear
Clean, chill
Volleyball Beach sits on the side of Stocking Island that looks across Elizabeth Harbour toward George Town. You get there by boat, the volleyball nets on the sand gave the place its name, and it works as the meeting point for cruisers and visitors around Great Exuma.
Before stepping aboard, check its daily 0 to 5 grade, pinned on the harbour map and posted each morning. It tells you whether the shore is clear, whether some weed is loitering inside the harbour or whether the day looks less inviting.
Volleyball Beach (Stocking Island) on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
The strength of Volleyball Beach is purely geographic: facing west over Elizabeth Harbour, it leans back against the body of Stocking Island, which screens it from Exuma Sound. Rafts driven along the ocean facade run into the island long before they can reach this inner water, which makes the beach one of the structural shelters of the Bahamas.
The rest of the sector shows the contrast. Tropic of Cancer Beach and Coco Plum Beach, open to the Sound, absorb episodes first; here it takes a chain of events, weed slipping into the harbour and then being pushed onto this shore by a westerly breeze, for the wrack line to really fill up.
Frequently asked questions
Does Volleyball Beach get much sargassum?
Seldom, compared with the beaches open to Exuma Sound. Screened by the bulk of Stocking Island and turned toward Elizabeth Harbour, it only gathers weed when some enters the harbour and the wind then presses it onto this shore.
Should I check the rating before taking the boat over?
It is the sensible reflex, especially in arrival season. The crossing from George Town takes some planning, and the map at the top of this page shows the state of the beach and its sector from the morning onward, so you board with a clear picture.
Why is this beach spared more than Coco Plum?
It all comes down to bearing. Coco Plum faces the ocean through the north-east and takes the flow head on; Volleyball Beach, due west behind the screen of Stocking Island, turns its back on it. The two ratings often move in opposite directions.
Is the place still worth it on a weedy day?
The spot stays lively even when the tide line carries some weed: volleyball courts, shaded tables and the calm harbour water fill the day easily. A marked episode remains the exception on this sheltered shore anyway.