Throughout the early months of 2015 and into the summer, beaches in Barbados, the Caribbean and Mexico were affected by the presence of excessive amounts of Sargassum seaweed.
Due the flow of ocean currents around Barbados, the beaches on the east coast and the south south (short of Hilton hotel on the south-west point) were the most badly affected. West coast beaches were mostly unaffected, remaining with crystal-clear waters and pristine sandy shores.
Since Barbados is a small island (just 166 sq. miles) many guests staying on the south coast chose to travel by car, bus or taxi to an alternative beach on the west coast, with Browne’s Beach/Carlisle Bay being a particular favourite. But clearly this was an inconvenience to those guests, and a surprise to many of our repeat visitors who have never experienced this phenomenon before.
Sargassum Seaweed On The East Coast of Barbados
Hotel employees, the National Conservation Commission and citizens worked tireless to clean the beaches, but the seaweed kept on coming!
Fortunately it abated in the late summer, with our beaches looking lovely once more!
Clean beach at Accra on the south coast of Barbados
Many plans have been put in place should the seaweed return, including more sophisticated beach-cleaning equipment (which does not damage the beach or turtle nests) and a seaweed boom at the Crane Resort.
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