Cancun vs Punta Cana
Neither is the sheltered pick: Cancun and Punta Cana both face the open Atlantic, so geography does not separate them.
Head to head editorial
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Most seaweed questions are really a choice between two trips. Each page below answers one of those choices up front, then backs it with the live risk cards, cams, and five-year satellite record for every contender. Geography sets the odds; the data settles the day.
Aruba vs Turks and Caicos
Aruba has the friendlier geography: its Palm and Eagle Beach zone faces west, away from the open Atlantic, while Grace Bay on Providenciales faces north behind a barrier reef.
Aruba vs Curacao vs Bonaire
It is a three-way tie on geography: Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire all put their main beach zones on leeward west coasts, the most sheltered setup this atlas tracks.
Playa del Carmen vs Tulum
Expect similar odds: Playa del Carmen and Tulum sit on the same east-facing coast about an hour apart, with the same exposure to the open Atlantic.
Jamaica vs Punta Cana
The Jamaica north coast has the more sheltered geography: Montego Bay and Ocho Rios face north, while the Punta Cana Bavaro strip faces the open Atlantic.
Florida Keys vs Nassau
Nassau has the friendlier geography: its Cable Beach shore faces north, while the ocean side of the Keys faces southeast into the path of the seaweed and saw record arrivals in 2026.
St. Thomas vs St. John vs St. Croix
No clear winner on geography: the shores this atlas tracks on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix all face generally north, so the live cards and cameras should make this call.
Grand Cayman vs Cozumel
Both are strong picks: Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman and the Cozumel resort coast face west, away from the open Atlantic, the most sheltered setup this atlas tracks.
Varadero vs Cancun
Varadero has a modest geographic edge: the Hicacos peninsula faces north toward the Straits of Florida, while the Cancun hotel zone faces the open Atlantic path.
Clearwater vs Cocoa Beach
Clearwater is the calmer pick in this atlas: the Gulf side of Florida shows far less floating algae in the satellite record than the Atlantic side, and Cocoa Beach faces the Atlantic.
St. Lucia
Book west for calmer water: Rodney Bay and the leeward shore face away from the open Atlantic, while the east coast catches it head on.
Martinique
Book west for calmer water: the leeward coast from Case-Pilote to Saint-Pierre faces away from the open Atlantic, while the east coast catches it head on.
Providenciales vs Grand Turk
Grand Turk has the friendlier geometry: its beaches face west past Cockburn Town, the most sheltered setup this atlas tracks, while Grace Bay faces north behind a barrier reef.
Isla Holbox vs Cancun
Holbox has the friendlier geography: it faces the Gulf side of the Yucatan Channel, while the Cancun hotel zone faces the open Atlantic path.
Not seeing your pair? Every destination page carries the same live card and history, so any two can be compared side by side in two tabs: start from the full destination list.