Is Sargassum a constant threat in Cozumel?
Is there Sargassum in Cozumel? The recent news has been reporting a massive amount of Sargassum weed infesting the otherwise pristine Cozumel coast. The good news it’s gone!
However, I thought I should write this post to explain how and when Sargasso can affect Cozumel beautiful coastline, and where you can monitor the real time situation before booking your vacatoin.
My name is Adrienne, and I have livedion Cozumel for 11 years. I am a dive instructor and love spending time at the beach, so I pay attention to how things like wind can impact the amount of sargassum on the beach.
Sometimes you can find conflicting answers on the internet, so I am here to help you understand the sargassum situation in Cozumel.
Keep reading and I will explain what you need to know about sargassum and how to pick which beach to go to visit.
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So, Is there sargassum in Cozumel?
The short answer is, “there can be”. Sargassum is a brown algae that is naturally found growing in warm, shallow waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The invasive Sargassum weed floats to the surface of the sea, and linger around.
It’s always been there, but it mostly stayed in the Atlantic Ocean. About 10 years ago, sargassum started floating into the Caribbean Sea. Scientists agree that warming waters and changing ocean currents due to climate change have caused more sargassum growth and to spread throughout the Caribbean.
Like most of the Caribbean, sargassum washes up on Cozumel’s shores. The peak season for sargassum is the hot summer months, starting in April or May until around September.
This does not mean that there is no sargassum in the winter, and thankfully it does not always mean that there is sargassum in the summer.
Where is the sargassum in Cozumel?
The amount of sargassum you will find on a Cozumel beach (or floating in the water) depends a lot on what side of the island you are on, and how the wind is blowing.
The west coast of Cozumel (or the side that faces Playa del Carmen) is where the town of San Miguel is located. Along the west coast is also where you will find almost all of the resorts and beach clubs.
Thankfully, there is hardly ever any sargassum along the west side of the island. Between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel there is a channel of water with a brisk current.
The movement of the water along with the normal wind directions keeps this coast free of sargassum almost all the time. This means that you rarely need to worry about seaweed affecting your hotel’s beach or your snorkeling adventure.
The east side of the island, lovingly referred to by locals as ‘the other side’ is not quite as lucky as the west side. This side is exposed to the open sea and the wind typically blows from the south or south-east.
This means that during sargassum season, the beaches along the eastern coast of Cozumel can have sargassum on the shore and floating in the water.
How to check where the sargassum is
There are several tools to help you know whether a beach has sargassum or not. The website sargassummonitoring.com has a section dedicated to showing where there is sargassum in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, including Cozumel.
There are also several Facebook pages, including Red de Monitoreo de Sargasso de Quintana Roo that publish maps of sargassum, and allow people to share current pictures of beaches.
Is there sargassum in Cozumel right now?
If your beach vacation is coming up, or you just like to keep tabs on your favorite Caribbean Island, you may have seen in late January an article online announcing the first sargassum arrived to Cozumel’s shores.
There was a strong wind from the south and south-east at the end of January, which blew some sargassum onto the shores of the ‘other side’ beaches. Up until this point, the winter months had been sargassum-free.
The sargassum that washed ashore did not blanket the beaches, nor were there large patches floating in the water.
Within a few days, the wind shifted, and the beaches were once again free of sargassum.
How the winter wind affects sargassum
During the winter months, cold fronts from the north can blow into Quintana Roo. These strong winds are sometimes accompanied by rain, a drop in temperature, and rough waters in Cozumel.
The water on the west side of Cozumel is usually protected from the wind. This creates the ideal scuba diving and snorkeling conditions Cozumel is known for its calm, flat seas.
This all changes when a norte blows in, and there can be large waves. At the beginning of February a strong “NORTE” (wind from the north) blew through, bringing sargassum to the west side of Cozumel.
Noticarbe reported that while large patches of sargassum were seen floating off the shores of Cozumel, as soon as the wind changed direction the sargassum began to disappear.
What beaches to visit during a norte
The ‘other side’ of the island is known for rougher waters. During a norte, the wind creates large waves on the west side of the island, leaving the other side flat and beautiful.
Often, the port capitain will close the harbor for recreational boating and aquatic activities, and the beaches have large waves and strong winds.
Nortes are the perfect time to head across the island and enjoy a rare and beautiful site- calm waters on the east coast!
If you enjoy shore snorkeling, nortes are the perfect time to grab your mask and fins and check out what is under the water off the shore.
Beaches like Punta Morena and Chen Rio, are often too rough to swim and perfect for expert surfers, but during a norte, they will have flat, calm waters.
Where to stay in Cozumel
Aside from one hotel on the east side of the island, all of the accommodations in Cozumel are on the west side. There it is rare that sargassum will wash up on the beach or be in thick patches floating in front of your hotel. Here are some great options of where to stay:
The Westin Cozumel
Located north of downtown San Miguel, the Westin is in a peaceful part of the island. The hotel has a stretch of white, sandy beach and great snorkeling right in front of the hotel. The Westin has three swimming pools, 2 restaurants, and a water sports facility on site. The hotel offers several different suite options, and all rooms have ocean views.
The hotel has a fitness and wellness center that has a full service spa where you can treat yourself to a massage or facial and visit the steam room.
The hotel is family and pet friendly, has bicycle rentals available, and plenty of entertainment. Guests who stayed there love the amazing views of the ocean and modern amenities.
Everything about the hotel is amazing. Views, service by staff (Carolina and Javier at the reception, Alex at the beach, Monica from housekeeping, Carmen, Virginia and Jorge at the Gaviotas restaurant), facilities, rom comfort, food, etc. Best stay we have had in Cozumel.
HECTOR
Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa
Located just south of downtown San Miguel, the Presidente InterContiental Resort and Spa is a luxurious, beachfront hotel.
It has a beautiful stretch of sand that leads to the calm Cozumel waters- perfect for water sports, swimming, and snorkeling. The hotel has two outdoor pools, a fitness center, and tennis courts.
There is a water sports facility and dive shop on site. There is a beachfront bar and grill as well as a restaurant that serves Mexican and Italian cuisine. The resort has several different suites to choose from, including luxurious beachfront rooms.
Stunning oceanfront location, luxurious amenities, and exceptional service. We appreciated the spacious and well-appointed rooms, the variety of dining options, and the resort’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The attentive staff and beautiful coral reefs near the property contribute to a memorable and relaxing experience.
ILIA
Iberostar Cozumel – All Inclusive
The Iberostar Cozumel is located south of town on a peaceful stretch of white sandy beach. This all-inclusive resort offers guests 5-star service and has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, kids’ club, and lots of evening entertainment.
There is a hottub, billiards, and table tennis to enjoy. All rooms have a terrace and guests can choose between standard rooms, suites, and multiple bedroom family units.
There are 3 restaurants on site and you can choose between a steakhouse or Mexican cuisine. Guests who stayed here love the location and ability to snorkel right in front of the resort.
The property was gorgeous. The rooms were clean, modern, and well maintained and the landscaping was beautiful. The staff were friendly and helpful, and genuinely cared about our satisfaction. I appreciated every memorable moment of our stay there, and will look for the Iberostar name when visiting other destinations.
Hypes
Is sargassum a constant threat in Cozumel? Final Thoughts
With the amount of sargassum floating in the Caribbean Sea, there is always a chance that uncommonly strong winds can blow sargassum ashore. Even during the winter months when sargassum is rare, wind storms can bring sargassum to the area.
Thankfully, Cozumel is an island, so if the wind is pushing sargassum ashore in one area, there is probably another spot that is sargassum-free calm, and peaceful for swimming and snorkeling.
If you want to avoid sargassum, stay away from strong on-shore winds. The west coast of Cozumel rarely gets such winds, so is almost always a safe bet for sargassum-free waters and beaches!
