There’s no need to let seaweed put a tangle in your vacation plans. If you’ve traveled to tropical beach destinations in the past, you may be aware of the massive amounts of seaweed that can cover some beaches. While seaweed isn’t harmful, it can be unpleasant to feel it brushing up against your skin as you’re wading in the water or relaxing in the sand. As you prepare for your Florida Keys getaway, there may be one very important question on your mind. Is there seaweed in Key West?
Yes, Florida beaches in Key West can have seaweed. Key West seaweed levels are generally highest between July and August. That’s when seaweed begins to wash ashore in the Gulf of Mexico for the summer. If this is your first time visiting South Florida, there are some things that you need to know about Key West seaweed that make it different from seaweed you’ve encountered at other beaches.
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Seaweed found in Key West is a special variety called sargassum seaweed.
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Sargassum is a type of brown algae that’s found throughout the Caribbean and other temperate-to-tropical oceans of the world. While sargassum blooms in the spring, it doesn’t generally become problematic until the middle of summer.
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Sargassum is generally most abundant in shallow water and coral reefs.
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The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is a huge mass of sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean that extends from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico via the Sargasso Sea. This massive sargassum quantity dates far back into history! It was first reported by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century. It reappeared in 2011. A current sargassum abundance remains to this day.
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Unfortunately, winds and currents can push sargassum to beach shores throughout the Caribbean to cause something called an “inundation event” that creates an unpleasant situation.
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The biggest problem with sargassum is a distinct odor created by the hydrogen sulfide that it gives off. If you smell rotten eggs in the air, the area you’re visiting probably has a sargassum problem.
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Is sargassum seaweed dangerous? While sargassum doesn’t pose health or safety risks for humans, tiny sea creatures that inhabit sargassum can cause blisters and rashes.
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Being in waters surrounded by floating seaweed can make for uncomfortable swimming. It’s hard for your brain not to imagine that this smelly seaweed is actually a scary sea creature floating in the water with you as it brushes against your skin.
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One positive thing about this smelly seaweed is that decaying sargassum can provide habitats for local marine life and rebuild beach ecosystems after washing to the shore.
Key West sargassum shouldn’t spoil your trip to South Florida. There are plenty of ways to avoid seaweed in Key West. Here’s everything you need to know:
1) How To Find Seaweed-Free Beaches?
If you’re unfamiliar with navigating your way around Key West sargassum, you don’t want to risk getting into a situation where sargassum seaweed is souring your adventure. This is where exploring the water with trusted guides who know the area can make a big difference.
Key West Paddle offers the ultimate sandbar trip in Key West. As a tour operator that’s been bringing tourists the best experiences on the water for more than a decade, we understand how to have an amazing time regardless of what the daily sargassum seaweed reports in the Florida Keys are saying!
We offer an unforgettable three-hour Key West Sandbar Trip that brings you out on the shallow turquoise waters to explore postcard-level views. We take our guests to the Mud Keys mangrove trails, Spine Point sandbar, and Jewish Basin sandbars to relax, wade in ankle-deep and waist-deep water, and bond while making once-in-a-lifetime memories. Each private excursion includes:
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Your own private captain for the day
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Ice cooler with bottled water and sodas
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Water toys
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Inflatable hangout dock
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Masks and snorkels for anyone who would like to explore the sea floor
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The option to add additional time to your excursion
We offer an experience you simply can’t get at public beaches in South Florida! Don’t miss your chance to experience sights that few people ever get to enjoy. Book your sandbar cruise with us today!
2) Avoid Eating Seaweed In Key West
As sargassum washes ashore around you, you may be wondering if this variety of seaweed is edible. After all, seaweed is a staple of cuisine in many parts of the world. However, the edible seaweed you’re thinking of is a type of red seaweed called nori.
The brown seaweed that blooms here in the Florida Keys is not considered to be edible. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns against eating local brown seaweed because it could contain high levels of toxic metals.
3) Time Your Trip To Avoid Peak Sargassum Seaweed Levels
If your top priority is to enjoy Key West beaches without seaweed, one tip is to simply avoid coming during peak sargassum seaweed times. Sargassum floats after blooming in the spring.
The earliest sightings of seaweed tend to occur by the middle or end of June. The seaweed will generally remain present at beaches along the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean through the early part of fall. For this reason, it’s recommended that you visit Key West from October through May to boost your chances of avoiding algae.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that people who visit the Florida Keys and parts of the Caribbean during the summer have enchanted holiday experiences that are not necessarily disrupted by seaweed.
4) Stick To Beaches On The Gulf Coast
In general, Florida beaches on the Gulf of Mexico side or east coast tend to have less seaweed compared to beaches on the southeast coast simply because the seaweed blobs float in from the Atlantic.
However, all major public beaches in Key West are generally located on the Atlantic side. That includes Smathers Beach and Higgs Beach. One exception is Simonton Street Beach. Simonton is a public beach with restrooms and a boat ramp located on Simonton Street on Key West’s Gulf side.
5) Take Advantage Of Some Of The Perks Of Brown Seaweed
Not everything about seaweed is negative. It turns out that seaweed can actually make it easier to spot sea turtles. The sargassum that humans find cumbersome serves as a crucial habitat for sea turtles. Baby turtles of the Caribbean Sea can actually be found nestled up on floating mats of sargassum.
As turtles bob along in the water, seaweed protects them from marine birds, sharks, and other predators while also giving them the warmth they need to grow. While seaweed can make spotting turtles a little easier, it’s important to remember that these creatures are considered endangered and protected! Only passive, nondisruptive viewing from a distance is permitted.
6) Visit Anne’s Beach
Locals will tell you that Anne’s Beach in nearby Islamorada is a rare seaweed-free beach. While there’s no guarantee that you won’t find seaweed here, the claim is mostly true. You will generally find a gorgeous white-sand beach that is free of seaweed when you come.
While getting to Islamorada requires a bit of a trek, you can enjoy a beach day at Anne’s Beach while still getting back to your hotel in time to end the evening in Key West.
7) Play At Fort Zachary Taylor In Key West
While there’s no guarantee that you won’t encounter some seaweed while visiting Fort Zachary Taylor on the Southern tip of Key West, the beach here generally has substantially less seaweed compared to popular Smathers Beach.
It can be easy to swim or snorkel in the shallow water here without being disrupted by seaweed. The fun part is that Fort Zachary Taylor is actually a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark with a Civil War-era fort.
Don’t Let Seaweed Stop Your Fun: Book The Best Key West Excursion
The truth is that it’s hard to book a summer trip to the Caribbean Sea without encountering some seaweed. However, pesky blooms don’t need to spoil your fun.
At Key West Paddle, our experienced captains and guides know how to navigate the clear, shallow waters off of Key West to let our guests enjoy beautiful views without being overwhelmed by seaweed.
We offer year-round excursions that bring you to Key West’s most beautiful sandbars. Our private Key West Sandbar Trips are perfect for couples, families, and friend groups. Book your spot with us today!
