Seasonal· Costalegre· Mexico
Red Tide and Water Clarity (Costalegre)
19° 17.4′ N · 104° 51.0′ W · approximate
Many winters a red tide (algae bloom) sweeps the Costalegre, turning miles of water the color of tea or burgundy, leaving brown scum lines and killing visibility from Chamela to Manzanillo — and with it the snorkeling and watermaker use.
Practical
Position approximate: representative point in Bahía Tenacatita, where a three-mile swath of burgundy water was reported (2011-2012). Do not swim or run a watermaker in red tide; cruisers who swallowed post-bloom water at the Chamela islands were ill for about a week (2011). Jellyfish blooms sometimes follow. Blooms come and go within days to weeks: move to another bay or wait. Spring often brings clearer water than mid-winter.
Best for
Planning swims and watermaker runs
Season
Most common Dec-Apr
Nearby
- Bahía Tenacatita Anchorage0.8 NM away
- Tenacatita Mangrove River Dinghy Trip0.8 NM away
- Tenacatita Cruiser Raft-Up and Bocce0.9 NM away
- Tenacatita Whale and Dolphin Watching1.1 NM away
- Tenacatita Aquarium Snorkel1.6 NM away
- Boca de Iguanas Beach2 NM away
- Bahía Azul Restaurant (La Manzanilla)3.5 NM away
- La Manzanilla Crocodile Sanctuary3.5 NM away