TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Rough waters on the way

Swimmers beware.
http://www.thedailyherald.com/index.php?...s&Itemid=54

This may sound like an inane suggestion, but I sincerely hope the island's hotels and resorts are posting this warning at their front desks and prominently within the hotels so their guests will see it.

I'm reminded of the poster here who mentioned injuries to an older beach-goer and also a young child that was swept out of the arms of a parent the other day at Mullet Bay. We often think things are so obvious yet when on vacation, all too often our brains go right out the window and we fail to think about what might go wrong or of realities such as the northerly swells and what they're capable of. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Let's hope the cruise ships do also.

Someone just got injured by Maho Beach. Need to be very careful.

Big waves and undertow over next door too.....was not in the water to-day....supposed to last 10 days.....our hotel did tell us....as we all know there will be idiots......kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

10 days! That's terrible! Even Kim Sha has waves & sea weed.

It's called nature and not much to do but appreciate its beauty but at the same time respect its strength and wrath.

We experienced a similar situation a few years ago in April. The Soualiga Patrol came through and 'closed' Mullet Beach. The closure lasted about as long as it took for the patrol to vacate and the board surfers were right back in the water again along with a few swimmers. We saw one guy get tossed head and neck first onto the beach where he landed on his back, apparently stunned by the beating the sea had delivered to him, and though he did ultimately seem okay, he had us all worried for a few moments.

Sadly, we don't always show 'Mother Naure' the respect she deserves. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I hope the child was ok!
I am always nervous when I see parents carrying their children in the water when the waves are huge!! They think they are safe being carried, but no one is!!!!

When we were there in December there was a day of high waves, we decided to visit Happy Bay that day and since at the time the waves at Friars were not bad we made the hike. The waves at Happy Bay first were not bad but continued to get worse and worse.

A gentleman in the range of say 65 years old was there and he decided he was going in. He was putting on his gear to go into the water as he was walking towards the surf. Note that in most places there were pretty big rocks where the waves were crashing and some that looked pretty lethal if you were to be pulled back across. I watched as he walked right directly into a wave that I could see towering well over his head and note I had a vantage point from above on the beach. It was like he thought he would slice through it. The wave nails him and he gets tossed up the beach. I go to rescue him and he is focused on finding is items he was wearing and putting back on his lost water sock while sitting in the sand as the next wave is coming with his back to the wave. He does not speak English so my yelling had little impact but I was able to get him moving up the beach just as the next wave hit and I barely stayed upright, he tumbled a bit but was not pulled back into the rocks. The man lived, at least until we left the beach shortly after this event.

I figure I was about 5 seconds from watching this man getting killed right in front of us. He was almost worthy of a Darwin Award. Just another ho hum relaxing day on the beach for me. Note that no beer was spilled during this crisis.

Cheers,
T

And whatever his native tongue, I hope he thanked his God that a hulking big-hearted good guy like you was there to come to his aid.

Like I said earlier, sometimes we get so caught up in the moment that we leave all common sense behind. It just happens......

As much as I love Mullet Beach, and I truly do, there are many days I'm perfectly content to sit on my chair reading my book and save all my water thoughts for back at the pool. Better to be safe than sorry..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

And Terry, from what I read, the child was fine but it will probably become one of those memories that lingers on forever.

And Todd, re the beer, why am I not surprised!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Listen....If waves are too big and rough......STAY OUT OF THE WATER!!!!!!

I never turn my back to the sea when there are nice waves-when there are serious waves I'm on the beach reading a book.10 days!

I was at Mullet beach Sunday 2/15 and today 2/17. Sunday was a bit rough, today was much rougher. I did go in and was ok, I have lived most of my life on Long Island and learned early to respect the ocean and most importantly how to get out of it in one piece. Even so today was a challenge. Saw a few people having trouble, one young couple was continually beaten as they tried to get out and another young man had his knees pretty bloodied challenging the rock on the end towards Cupecoy. If you go in, never, ever turn your back to the ocean, she will teach you a hard lesson if you do.

Hi there-we are also from LBI. Maybe we know each other? We are Susan and Anthony

Please, everyone, stay safe out there, as the dangerously rough waters are forecasted to stick around for several days.

Good, Pat! Day later we had the biggest waves we have ever seen on Mullet. People need to be aware!

Was in SXM a couple of weeks ago, Friars was pretty rough we went there 3 times, 2 of the 3 days the waves were tough only short breaks between the rough waves, enough to jump in get wet and get back. On the other side of the island Galion was a calm as can be!

A few years back (OMG maybe 20) we were at Cupecoy and a guy was body surfing and got slammed into the beach, a bunch of us grabbed him, made a quick sling out of his towel and sent to him to hospital with a dislocated shoulder!

Be careful out there!! Try the pool!

some people think I am on vacation and I'm supposed to be in the water, and I paid to come here and be in the water and waves be damned - I'm going in!! I don't think people realize the power behind those waves, or the undertow. Even just standing on the beach with the water around your ankles you can feel the power of the water as it's sucked back into the ocean. People have been known to drown in a puddle - never mind a huge ocean with giant crashing waves...