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Why is Cancun beach water brown?

Cancun and Riviera Maya are experiencing one of their most intrusive sargassum seaweed seasons ever. The dense, foul-smelling algae is a common site along shorelines, and Cancun and surrounding areas are seeing an influx at an alarming rate.



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In Playa del Carmen, the most affected beaches are Playacar Ferry, Playacar ZH Fase1, and Playa El Recodo. Most beaches in Cancun have low levels of sargassum.

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Seaweed and algae in the ocean´s floor, can darken the color of the water or give a green aspect to it. Plankton, algae and other organisms transform blue color into green. Also if there is seaweed floating light cannot penetrate the surface and shed light deep enough.

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The wastewater is often discharged directly into lagoons and bays such as Chetumal Bay and Nitchupé Lagoon in Cancun, Mexico.

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Although there will be some bacteria in the water from the tap it is fine to brush your teeth with, even if you are at a place where you can't drink the tap water.

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To the OP, in all seriousness, the water in Cancun is fine for bathing/showering; I wouldn't recommend you drink it though. It's not that the water is inherently unsafe it's that it almost certainly has minerals dissolved in it that your body isn't used to and may cause intestinal upset.

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3. Be cautious at night if you're traveling alone – Cancún isn't the most dangerous place at night, but in some places, it's not as well lit as it should be. Don't walk around alone late at night if you can avoid it.

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Playa Las Perlas, or Las Perlas Beach, is the closest public beach to downtown and offers shallow waters, water sports, and beautiful sand and water. The beach is a designated Blue Flag area, which means it has to follow strict standards for water quality, environmental care, and safety.

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Many beaches are closed to swimmers because they aren't safe—steep ocean floor drop-offs close to shore create strong waves and undercurrents, making it dangerous to enter the water. These beaches are clearly marked with red flags, warning swimmers to stay away.

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