TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient Beach Condition

Sorry folks I have been away from this site for 6 months or so. I understand that Orient Beach took a real beating from storms this past Summer...I also understand that currents have washed up a lot if seaweed and has made the beach a mess. Can anyone tell me if steps are being taken to clean it up and can anyone tell me current conditions? Thank you,

Enjoyable today, great surf!

singbeach, how is the seaweed situation?

Very little seaweed this past week at Kakao. So much better than last month!

At Bikini none, till later, around 4 some, but not too much, great waves so.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Any music on orient today? I heard Palm, then heard not till February on Sunday...?

Have they trucked out all the old seaweed that came up on the beach?

We left the island this past Saturday. Most of the seaweed has been removed.

We spent the day on Orient yesterday and seaweed wasn't a problem on the beach. There was some but no more than we usually see in certain areas and we were there for the day and it didn't seem to be building up.

Great day at Palm Beach and an excellent lunch! The loungers at Palm Beach are very comfortable and not packed together as they tend to be down toward Pedro's. Very few visitors on the beach yesterday and I'm assuming that this is because there might not have been many cruise ships in port. We saw several buses headed for Orient but, again, not many people. The biggest issue was the wind as it was quite gusty yesterday and we got sandblasted a time or two.

Glad to hear that the seaweed has calmed down. Traditionally, Monday is not a big cruise ship day.

We've heard that the beach in front of and around Pedro's (right-side of the rocks) was badly eroded due to the hurricane. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge of the beach in that area?

Apparently not. You keep posting the same question. Chill. It will be OK.

What Carol said! So what if there is seaweed? I'm going in February, staying on Orient, I will not change my plans based on the seaweed report! My friends spent Christmas in Tulum, Mexico and said the seaweed was bad there. It must be everywhere, but appears to be receding.Yay! I'll have a great time regardless.

There will be "joy on the beach" in January also, seaweed, wind, whatever. We get there Thursday afternoon, I'll give Atlanta a posting on Pedro's.

We really should not be touching or interfering with any seaweed on breaches. Seaweed is one key to mitigating future beach erosion and seaweed is a critical piece of the chain for any healthy beach ecosystem. I know many have gotten used to the manicured Disney look of raked beaches but the raking and sifting action is distructive to the sea and beach.

Sorry if I seem to be taking up valuable space with my question. Actually, I'm not asking about 'seaweed' if you'll notice. Just asking if there is any beach left in the area around Pedro's.
Just wanted to clarify, not expecting an answer.
Chill.

And the condition today may be way different than a week from now or even tomorrow.

It is not that you are taking up valuable space. You are continually asking the same question on multiple threads.

ALL of the island beaches "come and go" at times.

Wasn't much yesterday when we were there. Fairly sharp drop off and you had to walk in water to go between the Club O section and the rest of the beach. How's that?

Spent today at La Playa and walked the beach this morning. Very little seaweed from Coco to Club O with a fair amount north of Coco to Mt. Vernon. I thought the beach looked pretty normal for this time of year.

The Sargassum seaweed has been a big problem allover the Caribbean this year, but is now receding. It comes and goes every year. It just stayed longer this season, due apparently to the jet stream being lower or higher.