Anyone back from the Caribbean/Mexico recently? Wondering how accurate the seaweed issue?

Seaweed issue?

Heard from friends that stayed at Grand Sirenis (Tulum) that there was no swimming in the ocean at all due to seaweed.

2015 so far has been a record year for the massive amounts of seaweed blanketing the Caribbean. .....from Dominican Republic to Barbados they say the beaches are covered....looking for confirmation from an eye witness....Google it...

Ah, so not the Pacific side then... gotcha.

We just came back from Mexico and had no issues

Yikes! What a drag that would be...

Where in Mexico? How long ago? Thanks...

Puerto Vallarta, arrived back in calgary last Friday

Just returned from living in Barbados for 6 months and the seaweed had gotten pretty bad towards recent. There are still beaches on the west coast that haven't, or barely have been affected. The community and resorts are great at cleaning up but it moves fast. Swimming hasn't been affected, you might just get a few strands in your hair but that's the beauty of ocean living
it did not take anything away from the beauty of the island though. I can promise you that!

Good to know.....I'm not that familiar with Mexico----can you swim in the ocean at PV?

We went to Aruba no troubles we got back july 28

Glad to hear all these positives comments cause everything I'm ready paints a different picture. ....

*reading

Lots of discussion about the issue over on the tripadvisor forums. The seaweed washes in to shore. You just need to head out into the water a bit to get past it.

Yes you can swim in the ocean @ PV

Jamaica last week was completely fine

It's also highly variable along the coast. Some places will be completely inundated with the sargassum, while others are clear. Cancun Tom just posted some pictures from a place on the hotel zone that's been hit pretty hard. http://www.cancuntom.com/?p=9677
CANCUNTOM.COM
Cancún Tom's Mexico » Sargassum Seagrass at the Royal Sands

Nice cause some of the pics look brutal....

Belize was horrible in the spring, on the beach and in the water. Just got back from cuba and it was perfect.

Went in March to riviera maya area stayed at grand Bahia and tons of seaweed at the shore.

It's dark right now, but you can see Akumal Beach during the day on this webcam. There was a big cleanup effort a couple weeks ago. It seemed pretty clean, last time I looked. https://www.locogringo.com/akumal-beach-webcam
LOCOGRINGO.COM
Akumal Beach Webcam

I heard Cancun is bad....like 3 feet high at shore. ...

We were in Los Cabos, Mexico and came back last week, no such issues

Belize is still pretty bad. Tobago is calling it a natural disaster for some of their areas. Grenada and Carriacou were fine when Ileft in May and I'm hoping they'll be the same or better when I return in a few months.
Many of the resorts are staying on top of it very well but it's overwhelming.

The sargassum problem is in the Caribbean not the Pacific....

Some resorts are doing a great job of trying to manage it. We just booked the Grand Palladium in the Mayan Riviera just north of Akumal after checking out their beach webcams for several weeks. Although some other resorts don't seem to be able to keep up with it.

Just came back from Azul Fives. August 9 to 16. First four days the beach and water were covered with seaweed. Since August 13 the water was clear and no seaweed at all on the beach and water.

If you look RIGHT NOW, you can see a crew at work taking away some seaweed!
https://www.locogringo.com/akumal-beach-webcam
LOCOGRINGO.COM
Akumal Beach Webcam

As you can see, they try to keep it under control but I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow's picture looks much the same.

Patricia Acuña Bromberg We are gong to Azul fives in NOV - how was it!! Any tips or suggestions? After a week there (we are there for a wedding) we are taking off to Akumal.... just not sure where to stay, I am looking at staying at Las Villas Akumal - anyone have any other ideas? We have stayed at the Akumal beach resort, which is now changed to a spa ... too expensive now....appreciate any suggestions and tips for us!

I get a very bad reaction to seaweed so please be prepared for it - it can truly be a nightmare for anyone sensitive to it.

Belize was bad in feb ... Just got home from grand Bahamas last week . Very little on the beaches but I heard Cuba has none at all

Rachel,which side of the island were you on?

How is Roatan.... we are going there in 2 weeks

We were by Freeport

Very lucky I guess hey ?

Gina, we spent one week at Azul Fives in a one-bedroom apartment (Villa 2). We attending a wedding, so we didn't choose the place; however, it was very good. The food was excellent; the facilities are very good. The Thai restaurant became my favourite for dinner. We went twice to Arezzo and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. The beach is small but nice (we try not to compare it to Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos :)) There are beach butlers who will bring and set up umbrellas for those who do not want to be in the sun. If the resort is almost full, finding a beach bed will be close to impossible. The pools among the different villas are quiet and provide a good alternative to the beach and the infinity pool (which is usually crowded and where water sports are held). The grounds are beautiful and if you are patient you will see the spider monkeys wandering around the pools. I highly suggest having breakfast at La Brasserie. Everything is yummy there. For lunch we took turn between Sea Olive and Oriola. Overall, we had a great stay at Azul Fives. I hope you enjoy it too.