South Pointe: a guide to the southern tip of Miami Beach

Where it is

South Pointe sits at the very southern end of Miami Beach, where the island meets the channel that ships use to reach the port. A park runs along the water, and a long pier reaches out into the sea beside the channel. From the sand you see the open ocean to the east and the cruise ships passing to the south.

It is a quieter stretch than the busiest blocks of South Beach, and many people choose it for a calm morning swim, a walk on the pier or an afternoon on the grass.

Why it can differ from its neighbours

Sargassum floats, so where it ends up depends on the wind, the currents and the shape of the coast. At South Pointe the coastline turns and meets a channel with a jetty. Those structures can make seaweed pile up in some corners and stay away from others, and they change how the water moves close to shore.

That is why South Pointe and South Beach, only a short walk apart, do not always show the same level. Look at each one separately rather than assuming one tells you about the other.

Before you go

1. Open the South Pointe page the same morning. The level, the index and the age of the data are at the top.
2. Look at the week ahead. The first days are a forecast; the last ones are only a trend and are drawn as such.
3. Read the latest reports from people on the sand. They often catch changes the satellite has not seen yet, especially on cloudy days.

On the beach

If you find seaweed on the sand, avoid stepping on the piles that have been there for a while and keep children and pets away from them. Our guide on smell and health explains why decomposing sargassum is worth keeping a distance from.

Follow the lifeguards' flags and instructions; they are the ones who know the sea that day. And if you have a moment, send a report with or without a photo. Every report helps the index read South Pointe more accurately for whoever comes next.