Seaweed is back

[keepcoming]

Back in the day Punta Cana (Bavaro,etc..) did not really exist (not like now). Sugar cane fields, etc... Puerto Plata was the up and coming "resort" area. Later Casa de Campo was becoming popular. Many of my spouses cousins worked in the resorts/casinos in Puerto Plata. But I seriously doubt the seaweed issue will "ruin" Punta Cana. Some days it is bad other days not so bad.

 

[Nadie21]

Right now…Cap Cana is Bad! Awful smells

 

[Eugene_A]

Right now…Cap Cana is Bad! Awful smells

I was at Juanillo Beach today, tons of seaweed

 

[MariaRubia]

As for the death of tourism being a good thing, I suspect you might be the only person with that opinion.

Well said

 

[MariaRubia]

My point is: look at Caribbean islands like Antigua, Barbados, Dominica... even if they lose their beaches due to seaweed invasion, they are still nice countries to travel around... For example, during my stay in Antigua I spent maybe a couple of hours on the beach, but I spent a few days driving on a rental car all around the island, visiting everything. Never saw any garbage around, everything was really clean, as it should be.

If DR will lose their beaches because of the seaweed invasion, there's nothing else to see there. The whole country is a big garbage dump. Who wants to drive to so-called national parks or any eco–tourism places in DR, if you have a risk that some neanderthals will throw big rocks to your windshield on the highway, because if you crash, they can steal your wallet and your shoes? Who wants to see mountains of garbage here and there on both sides on any highway? Who want to see tons of floating garbage in the rivers?

So if seaweed will ruin DR beaches, that's it. There's nothing else for tourists here. I think that Government has to think about it before it's too late. The whole country can be cleaned, everything can be repaired, rules and laws enforced, it there will be any political will to do that. Unfortunately, in DR they need another Trujillo for that.

I really question whether you have spent a lot of time in DR to make this post. I don't actually like beaches all that much and that's why I hate islands like Antigua (been there 9 times) Barbados (11 times) Dominica (4 times). Absolutely zilch to do in those places. DR, in my opinion, is packed with things to do that don't involve beaches. The capital is a huge city, almost the same size as Los Angeles, with a world of things to do, great nightlife (normally in any case), good shopping, parks, museums, historic sites, bars, restaurants, the list goes on. The interior of the island is fascinating, the mountains are breathtaking, a drive through the agricultural areas is interesting. You can do adventure sports like whitewater rafting in Jarabacoa, mountain biking, rock climbing. You mention safety, but compared to countries like Jamaica or even Mexico we are way safer and especially for tourists in AI's it is rare to hear of anyone having serious problems. Anyone who interferes with the tourist dollar on DR gets dealt with very quickly by the police.

I would also take issue with the idea that the seaweed will ever cause tourists to stop coming. I believe that some airlines and holiday companies have always sent their customers an advisory that there is a risk of seaweed in Punta Cana, and so far it doesn't seem to have put people off.

On your final point, have you not noticed that the current president is trying to do just that? Eliminate corruption. Ensure rules are enforced. Sure that can't have passed you by?

 

[Eugene_A]

DR, in my opinion, is packed with things to do that don't involve beaches. The capital is a huge city, almost the same size as Los Angeles, with a world of things to do, great nightlife (normally in any case), good shopping, parks, museums, historic sites, bars, restaurants, the list goes on. The interior of the island is fascinating, the mountains are breathtaking, a drive through the agricultural areas is interesting. You can do adventure sports like whitewater rafting in Jarabacoa, mountain biking, rock climbing.

On your final point, have you not noticed that the current president is trying to do just that? Eliminate corruption. Ensure rules are enforced. Sure that can't have passed you by?

Sorry, rubia, I don't argue with people like you, so let's agree to disagree.

 

[MariaRubia]

Sorry, rubia, I don't argue with people like you, so let's agree to disagree.

Thank you. There is too much of the "I'm right, you're wrong shut up" attitude on DR1 these days, so it is really refreshing to see someone who can agree to disagree and recognise we all have different tastes and opinions. I do think that if you constantly make posts criticising a country on a forum for those who have chosen to live there, you're probably going to have a lot of criticism but it is healthy to see another person's point of view.

And there is too much garbage, on this you are 100% correct.

 

[william webster]

I have read these 'Seaweed' threads over the years and thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't been affected.
Here on the north coast (Cabrera) we have seen little of it - compared to others.

Well - ain't times achangin'!!!???

I am looking out at the ocean and see a TON of it floating by.

I live a bit like The Big Bird used to -- up in the air--- an aerie of sorts.
His was an apartment bldg - mine is atop a cliff....
Overlooking the oldest lighthouse in the New World

I am told Playa Grande Beach is not too affected....
But the other local beaches are - Diamante, La Entrada, et al.

Just terrible.... too much to clean up by hand .... and it keeps on coming !!!
Mounds of it !

YUK!!

 

[JD Jones]

I have read these 'Seaweed' threads over the years and thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't been affected.
Here on the north coast (Cabrera) we have seen little of it - compared to others.

Well - ain't times achangin'!!!???

I am looking out at the ocean and see a TON of it floating by.

I live a bit like The Big Bird used to -- up in the air--- an aerie of sorts.
His was an apartment bldg - mine is atop a cliff....
Overlooking the oldest lighthouse in the New World

I am told Playa Grande Beach is not too affected....
But the other local beaches are - Diamante, La Entrada, et al.

Just terrible.... too much to clean up by hand .... and it keeps on coming !!!
Mounds of it !

YUK!!

Somebody needs to come up with a way to cook this stuff so you can eat it.

 

[AlterEgo]

I have read these 'Seaweed' threads over the years and thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't been affected.
Here on the north coast (Cabrera) we have seen little of it - compared to others.

Well - ain't times achangin'!!!???

I am looking out at the ocean and see a TON of it floating by.

I live a bit like The Big Bird used to -- up in the air--- an aerie of sorts.
His was an apartment bldg - mine is atop a cliff....
Overlooking the oldest lighthouse in the New World

I am told Playa Grande Beach is not too affected....
But the other local beaches are - Diamante, La Entrada, et al.

Just terrible.... too much to clean up by hand .... and it keeps on coming !!!
Mounds of it !

YUK!!

I miss BigBird. He’s probably up in heaven sitting in one of his ugly chairs, laughing at us. 🤣

 

[william webster]

I hope so..... 'Frica might have the chairs !!
hahaha

 

[NALs]

It appears that the best way to deal with the Sargazo is by applying a line that captures it offshore and prevents it reaches the beach.

Here is one example I took from the satelite image of Cap Cana in Google Earth. The Sargazo is clearly visible as a dark spot in the sea.

This other example of Punta Cana shows that it works, but they probably didn't got rid of the Sargazo that reached the beach before the line was placed.

The line plus cleaning the beach every morning could help reduce substantially the effects of the Sargazo.

 

[Eugene_A]

I am in Cap Cana right now. That line only make things worse, the seaweeds are accumulated behind the line, they rot it the sun and then all the decay products that look like brown colored water that smells like sewer, stay between the line and the beach. So if you are on the beach, you see tons of seaweeds behind the line, and all the water between the beach and that line is brownish and smells like shlt, nobody wants to swim in that. On top of that, that brown colored and smelling-like-sewer water entered all canals in Cap Cana, and the whole area smells like shlt.

I am leaving Cap Cana tomorrow after staying one month here, and I don't want to come back.

 

[bob saunders]

Was at Bahia las aguillas this past weekend, no seaweed anywhere, no garbage and water clear and clean.

 

[CristoRey]

Was at Bahia las aguillas this past weekend, no seaweed anywhere, no garbage and water clear and clean.View attachment 4719View attachment 4720

Great pics, thanks for sharing.
Never been down there but it's definitely on my list of places to when I have the time.
Not that I follow YouTube "Influencers" but I did come across a video earlier this week of an English couple making their first trip down to Playa Rincon and sadly the entire beach had a mountain of rotting seaweed and trash. Needless to say their first experience down to that coast was not a pleasent one though they did seem to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lagoons/ fresh water areas.

 

[AlaPlaya]

Great pics, thanks for sharing.
Never been down there but it's definitely on my list of places to when I have the time.
Not that I follow YouTube "Influencers" but I did come across a video earlier this week of an English couple making their first trip down to Playa Rincon and sadly the entire beach had a mountain of rotting seaweed and trash. Needless to say their first experience down to that coast was not a pleasent one though they did seem to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lagoons/ fresh water areas.

Playa Madame was equally covered in seaweed last week. You literally had to wade through it to disembark from the boat. Not enjoyable at all.

 

[SD Este]

The last time I was in Barahona, 3 years ago or so ago, the seaweed was unbearable. Same with Las Terrenas 2 or 3 years before that. You simply could not go swimming. The smell was disgusting.

 

[HDR]

I am in Cap Cana right now. That line only make things worse, the seaweeds are accumulated behind the line, they rot it the sun and then all the decay products that look like brown colored water that smells like sewer, stay between the line and the beach. So if you are on the beach, you see tons of seaweeds behind the line, and all the water between the beach and that line is brownish and smells like shlt, nobody wants to swim in that. On top of that, that brown colored and smelling-like-sewer water entered all canals in Cap Cana, and the whole area smells like shlt.

I am leaving Cap Cana tomorrow after staying one month here, and I don't want to come back.

Agree, it was the same in La Cana resort. And yes the smell... Never seen it that bad in Punta Cana/Bavaro and I have visited there 25+ times for 15+ years. Hopefully it is just this year. And yeah that line is NOT working.

 

[Tonchi]

Agree, it was the same in La Cana resort. And yes the smell... Never seen it that bad in Punta Cana/Bavaro and I have visited there 25+ times for 15+ years. Hopefully it is just this year. And yeah that line is NOT working.

It is not this year.. It will only get worse.. There are satellite photos of the Atlantic that show its size growing. 2019 was technically the worst.

Optical Oceanography Laboratory — College of Marine Science — University of South Florida

satellite imagery sargassum

optics.marine.usf.edu

 

[HDR]

It is not this year.. It will only get worse.. There are satellite photos of the Atlantic that show its size growing. 2019 was technically the worst.

Optical Oceanography Laboratory — College of Marine Science — University of South Florida

satellite imagery sargassum

optics.marine.usf.edu

If so it will be a nightmare for Bavaro/PC. Depending on season, it has always been there...but manageable, never seen it like it was this summer.