The Cayman Islands is one of many countries increasingly impacted by large Sargassum blooms over the past decade.
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Palm Beach in Aruba, Dutch CaribbeanIt's one of the most reliable Caribbean islands without sargassum. While there are several small, boutique-sized hotels in Aruba, here are two of our favourite large resorts on Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.
So though the East End is beautiful and a great option, you need to keep in mind that the beaches could be covered with sargassum seaweed. With that said, once you get past the sargassum seaweed, the water is crystal clear and absolutely beautiful!
Most of the sargassum is on the east end. We did encounter some diving the north wall, and just a little bit in the West Bay/7 Mile area, but not a full on bloom.
Since 2011, 2023 still ranks in the top half of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons. With the latest data, USF researchers say in June, sargassum will likely decrease in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning beachgoers may not have such a smelly experience. The USF lab forecasts the decrease to continue through August.
Over the past few years, a brown seaweed called sargassum has floated onto the beaches of much of the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. The beaches here on Ambergris Caye have been significantly affected as well.
Palm Beach in Aruba, Dutch CaribbeanIt's one of the most reliable Caribbean islands without sargassum. While there are several small, boutique-sized hotels in Aruba, here are two of our favourite large resorts on Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, Seven Mile Beach is also known as an ideal spot for swimming, sunbathing, and soaking up some rays. With shallow water that stretches out into the sea and no strong currents, it's easy to splash around or go for a relaxing dip any time of day.
Sargassum threatens tourismJamaica, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic are sought-after tourist destinations in the Caribbean and tourism is a major industry for these Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Unfortunately, sargassum can threaten this industry.
While the overall amount of potentially toxic seaweed is declining, some beaches will still get hit with waves of it, the researchers said. Last month, for example, Mexico's Yucatan coast and the west side of Jamaica actually saw more sargassum, even as most places saw less.
Because the Cayman Islands are flat coral islands without rivers, there is very little natural runoff to silt the water, unlike the mountainous volcanic islands in other parts of the Caribbean. Visibility in Cayman's clear water can range from 60 -100 feet and year-round temperature averages 73 – 85 degrees.