Why does Playa del Carmen smell?

For several years, growing amounts of the thick macroalgae have washed up on the shores of resorts including Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, turning water brown, blanketing beaches and releasing a pungent smell as it decays in the sun.

Why does it smell in Playa del Carmen?

Tourists looking for sun and sand in Mexican resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum have been disgusted by foul-smelling mounds of sargassum — a seaweed-like algae — piling up on beaches and turning turquoise waters brown, and experts are warning that it may be the new normal.

Why does the Gulf of Mexico smell like sulfur?

Why does Sargassum smell so bad? When washed ashore, Sargassum will decompose (rot). Rotting Sargassum causes the production of hydrogen sulfide gas which smells like rotten eggs.

Why does it smell like rotten eggs in Cancun?

Cancun Has a Nasty Seaweed Problem and Tourists Are Staying Away. An algae named sargassum is washing up, turning beaches into a slimy, brown eyesore with a smell like rotten eggs.

Is Playa del Carmen beach full of seaweed?

Beaches with the highest seaweed count include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and some points between Cancun and Puerto Morelos.

What is the sargassum situation in Mexico 2022?

Is the beach better in Cancun or Playa del Carmen?

Cancun vs Playa del Carmen: the beach

Both Playa del Carmen and Cancun have some of the best beaches in Mexico, I admit. But, the beach in Cancun is unbeatable and Playa del Carmen doesn't even compare.

Is the water in Playa del Carmen clear?

Playa del Carmen is known for white sand beaches, beautiful clear turquoise waters, but in 2015 it is also becoming known for record-breaking amounts of seaweed.

Why does Playa del Carmen smell like Sulphur?

For a number of years the foul-smelling algae has been washing up on the shores of Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum in increasing quantities, turning the water brown and blanketing beaches with a brown sludge. The thick macroalgae also brings with it a pungent 'rotten egg' stench as it decays in the hot summer sun.

Can you get sick from Sargassum?

Travelers and doctors alike should be aware that prolonged contact with the Sargassum weed, or inhaling the hydrogen sulfide gas it gives off as it decomposes on the beach, can cause heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, vertigo, headache and skin rashes, the authors write in the Journal of Travel ...

Why does the water smell in Mexico?

The odor problems are a result of poorly managed wastewater and trash in a sprawling metropolis whose population — 20 million by official count — outgrew its infrastructure decades ago. Authorities have sought for years to find a solution.

Why does LA smell like sulfur?

The sea is known for its rotten egg-y smell because of massive fish die-offs. The L.A. Times reports the South Coast Air Quality Management District have now confirmed the smell travelled all the way from the Salton Sea.

Why do the beaches in Key West stink?

That ubiquitous smell is decaying sargassum, islands of floating, brown sea algae that is piling up along the beaches of Key West, the Florida peninsula, Mexico and other Caribbean islands. Happens every summer when the winds and currents come from the south.

Why are there no beaches in Key West?

The Keys don't have wide sandy beaches because the coral reefs we enjoy as snorkelers and scuba divers prevent the erosion and sand from building up along the shore. So while the beaches aren't what make the Keys special, there are still some pretty special beaches in the Keys.

What is the prettiest beach in Mexico?

Which beach in Mexico has no seaweed?

Top beaches in Mexico without seaweed and worth considering for a beach vacation include Carrizalillo Beach (Puerto Escondido), Punta Mita, Mismaloya and Bucerias (near Puerto Vallarta) and Santa Cruz beach and San Agustin beach (Huatulco).

Is there still a seaweed problem in Mexico 2021?

Sargassum Forecast for Seaweed Season in Mexico in 2021 and 2022. In Mexico, sargassum seaweed season is generally between May and October each year. If you travel to the Caribbean coast of Mexico outside of that time period you can generally expect to avoid large mats of seaweed on the beaches.

Can I swim with sargassum?

Certain animals, especially dogs, are also sensitive to the inhalation of hydrogen sulfide. He further cautions to avoid swimming in Sargassum infested waters as it can lead to skin irritation.

What does sargassum look like?

Sargassum is a brown algae and the 'grapes' are the air bladders, which keep it afloat. It may look like the attached marine plants found in coastal waters, but it's found in the middle of the North Atlantic Gyre. The area, of about 2 million square miles, is known as the Sargasso Sea.

Is seaweed smell toxic?

If you've cruised the eastern Caribbean or South Florida recently, you probably caught a whiff of a rotten egg smell and noticed piles of floating brown seaweed hugging the shore. Far more than an eyesore, this Sargassum seaweed—and the gases it emits as it rots—has been proven to be hazardous to human health.

Why does the ocean smell like sewage?

The beach's poetic smell comes, in part, from a not-so-poetically-named sulfur compound called dimethyl sulfide, or DMS.

Why is there so much seaweed in Playa del Carmen Mexico?

Tourists buy fewer tours in Playa del Carmen due to sargasso

This time of the year is when more seaweed arrives on the coast of the municipality of Playa del Carmen because the winds from the north decrease and the currents from the southeast intensify, the area where the large patches of seaweed come from.

Is there a lot of sargassum in Playa del Carmen?

Many of Playa del Carmen's main beaches are currently experiencing the arrival of excessive amounts of sargassum.

Is Playa del Carmen safer than Cancun?

Playa del Carmen is a safe destination for tourists too – as is Cancun – but as always you must be vigilant in regards to petty crime in both destinations, and be careful of leaving drinks unattended.

How deep is the water at Playa del Carmen?

Its fairly shallow at the beach.. however if you want to swim out to snorkel where the off-shore reef is(100+ yards), it will be deeper(6-8-10) feet. HAVE FUN!

Are the beaches in Playa del Carmen Nice?

This stretch of Mexican coastline is famed for its turquoise water, sun-bleached beaches, thick palm groves, and laid-back living. It's among the most-visited destinations in not only the country of Mexico, but in the world. The Riviera Maya has dozens of beautiful beaches, many of which are in Playa del Carmen.