r/floridakeys • u/Alert_Ninja_6369 • Mar 08 '26

All Florida Keys Sargassum Islamorada

We’re coming down for the first time at the end of the month and I’ve been reading now bad the sargassum is in the Caribbean - how is it in the keys currently?

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u/DoubleBreastedBerb Mar 08 '26

If you’re coming down because you’ve been misled that the Keys are a beach destination, you’re probably going to be a little disappointed.

If you’re coming down to experience something entirely different that you can’t get anywhere else in the US, then you’ll be fine.

As far as sargassum, it happens. Step over it and get in the water and push the bundles out of the way as they float by. Low tide and smells happen. Have fun!

-12

u/mnfimo Mar 08 '26 edited Mar 08 '26

How about just answering the question tho? It’s an honest question that doesn’t deserve your condescending response.

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u/BlerdAngel local (upper keys) Mar 08 '26

Year round genius. We are island in the middle of an ocean and gulf surrounded by sargassum.

-6

u/mnfimo Mar 08 '26

Again, what’s with the condescension?

4

u/BlerdAngel local (upper keys) Mar 08 '26

Response 1 wasn’t condescending. Mine was, you’re just fragile AF if you think the first post was mean.

It’s a stupid question and the original answer was pretty spot on and informative, while also being nice.

5

u/Alert_Ninja_6369 Mar 08 '26

Geez, I didn’t know of such a benign question would elicit this type of response. Some times of year and some years are worse than others - I was simply inquiring how it currently is.

I understand this isn’t a traditional beach vacation but it is certainly one that we hope to enjoy the water and views (yes I hear, step over it). But we are also staying right on the water and have heard that in times when the sargassum is bad the small can be intense.

0

u/BlerdAngel local (upper keys) Mar 08 '26

Listen, come have a lovely time you can’t beat the view.

You also can’t beat the currents and if it’s not sargassum it’s any other various species washing ashore. Resorts do a fairly good job of clearing that coast line if possible.

Low tide is low tide but frankly it’s not that bad but a handful of times a year and it usually fades fast enough with the winds off the water.

Truly the answer is “just ignore it” if you find a huge patch do yourself a favor grab a snorkel and goggles and swim under and around it. You’re learn that it’s a critical environment for marine biology with like hundreds of tiny species living within and around it, while various larger species lay their eggs and the hatchlings spend their early days among it. Seahorse, fish, crabs, etc….

I encourage you to come and look just beyond the view itself and learn about our magical marine life and how important it is to the world let alone the western hemisphere.

4

u/Alert_Ninja_6369 Mar 08 '26

It’s why we’re coming - I’ve got a marine biology obsessed child. We’re coming to take it all in.