USVI-On-Line

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/tr ... asion.html

Has anyone been reading about the sargassum. I know someone mentioned seeing it at Haulover. It certainly appears to be a major problem in and around the Caribbean. It's reported that piles as high as 5' on the shores of Antigua. YUK. Hopefully it'll all be gone by January!

I've love to hear from those of you who have recently visited and had experience with it. Did having the seaweed change any of your daily plans?

We have a yearly invasion of Sargassum on the Northern Gulf Coast of Florida. It is the way nature maintains and builds beaches. I don't know about the Carribian but it is so necessary here. We just push it out of the way and go on. Some time tiny species and infant sea life hang out in the weed so I would think that in the super clear water you might see some cool stuff living in it.

We were on St Martin when Irene went through. I could not believe the amount of seaweed on the windward side beaches. Unbelievable! We were so glad we were staying on the other side of the Island. That stuff stinks horribly when it starts decomposing.

We could see mats of it floating by in the open ocean in August. That said hardly any was on the beaches outside of Haulover North. Even then we still able to get around it and have an excellent snorkel at Haulover North.