Desire Resort Forums

We were at RM until September 4, and the seaweed was a problem every day. Honestly, we don't use the beach much at RM or Pearl, but if you do you may be disappointed until this clears up.

Any new updates on the seaweed issue from your recent visit ?

Just returned from RM. Yes, the seaweed is a problem, some days were better than others. The storm offshore toward the end of our stay made it worse......."but" the resort does what it can Beach volleyball was fun and unaffected, but if the sugar white sand and crystal clear blue water is the main reason for your visit, you will most likely be left wanting To put it into perspective though, it is a regional problem , and the resort next door is suffering even worse.

Just returned from RM and unfortunately the seaweed is still a huge problem for the entire coast. Staff said that even if they install those catch nets, it won't completely fix the issue, there will still be seaweed. Beach volleyball and horseshoes were unaffected but we mainly spent our time at the pool. We love the beach and would like to come back when the seaweed season is over. Again we may not spend much time at the beach if we return because most of the fun is at the pool.

From what month to what month is seaweed season?

newbiepilot10 wrote:From what month to what month is seaweed season?

If we heard correctly from Leo, traditionally during storm season, late July through early September is when there was more seaweed. We have gone in May and September for years and until this year we never saw more than a sprinkling. But, the problem has been affecting the entire region year round this year, so until the currents get back to their statistically "normal" patterns, it will continue to be an issue unfortunately

There is a website called seas-forecast.com that allows you to search the current status of the sargassum throughout the Caribbean. You can see satellite images and all. Click the forecast button and use the location of Quintana Roo North. There are no blooms there right now so things should be clear. Playa del Carmen is reporting that the recent storms took the blooms elsewhere. We’ll see how long that lasts. It’s related a lot to the fertilizer being used down in South America in what used to be the amazon but is now being farmed. The run off has resulted in nitrogen rich water that has drifted north and is promoting the blooms of sargassum.

mickjaggeroo wrote:There is a website called seas-forecast.com that allows you to search the current status of the sargassum throughout the Caribbean.

Awesome - thanks for the link to the website Mick.

At Pearl now, the storm has washed all the sargasum out, the beach to the left and right of parts The beach is flat now but eroded up quite a ways. A couple trees were lost. Just a little clean up each day. They are moving sand around to fill in the hills left by the storm.

We too are at DRM this week. The beach was level and perfect the day we arrived then it stormed and a lot of sand washed away leaving the beds sloping with about a 1 foot height difference on the foot end.

Seaweed moderated for a day or two, but it's back every morning now in windrows a foot deep and 3-5 feet wide. The resort hauls off dozens of bags of it everyday but it's a losing battle -- man vs Mother Nature -- man is losing this one. We spent all but one day at the pool as a result.

There is an updated article about the barriers here:

https://www.riviera-maya-news.com/mahahual-mayor-says-sargasso-barriers-of-little-use/2018.html

Looks like the problem for the next month or so may be dissipating though. See the following for a great ongoing perspective. We can hope, right?

https://optics.marine.usf.edu/projects/SaWS.html

Wow, that is great news, hoping for a clear beach next month. That's for the link.