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

FYI (and yes I know it will change), yesterday the beach at Club O was getting narrower again. When we arrived we noticed that the water had come right up to the funce on southside of Perch overnight and when we left water was lapping the bottom stip of Perch. We sat on back row almost down at Papagayo as this was the only place we could find an empty spot to place our chairs. There were 3 - 4 rows of Club O chairs in this area but the waves often came as far as the 2nd row. Be interesting to see what it is like today.

How is the seaweed today?

No seaweed at Club O end.

I know a lot of people have said that sand comes and goes, but in the last 9 years that we have been going to the Club O beach I have pretty much seen it go. Up until a couple years ago we could walk on the sand past Pedros and Papagayo. A little while back Papa's had to put in rocks to keep it from undermining the establishment. Am I the only one that has seen this?

And with predicted sea level rise there will be more goes than comes.

I've noticed that the beach part that is seen on their webcam is getting smaller. I guess they could move the railing further back to accommodate the extra rows of chairs between the Perch & Papagayo. Even in Nov. the HH line extended into the water.

It is sad to see such a beautiful beach change so much over the years. There has definitely been more sand leaving than coming back lately, and it doesn't seem that is going to change any time soon. They may have to extend the beach backwards to make more room! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Yes Elizabeth, they are already putting 2 - 3 rows of chairs behind the fence both sides of Perch, which is great if you are renting, but becoming increasingly difficult for thos of us with our own chairs to find space.

The beach has changed in 10 years but nothing like the last 2 or 3 years. There are many folks who believe that it started with the extension of Papagayo followed by the addition of the sea wall. In other words, self inflicted.

We see the same thing here in Lewes, De. It's a constant battle against the sea. Delaware spends million of dollars putting sand back on the beaches only to have the next storm take it away. My house is less than a half mile from the beach and I truly believe one day it will be beach front property. It's a world wide problem.

It's sad to see the beach go and come so much at Orient but nothing like the town of North Cove, WA, also known as Washaway Beach. For many years, the Pacific Ocean has relentlessly attacked the sandy shore, washing away beach and houses along the shore, moving the shoreline back by half a mile over the last decade, leaving water and sewer pipes sticking up in the sand where one houses stood. It doesn't have the protective reef like Orient

Not Orient, I know, but has anyone been to Shoal Bay East lately in the area where Gwen's used to be? It was heartbreaking to see the erosion along that stretch of beach and all those beautiful palms falling into the water, not to mention what it did to Gwen's and the little spa next door.

We asked what was causing it and the best guess of some of the locals back then was that it might be a result of some serious dredging that was being done elsewhere but in a relatively close proximation to this part of the island.

I don't know if this was fact or merely an assumption on the part of the gentlemen we were talking to. Any thoughts or any real facts from our frequent AXA visitors?

One of the problems with beach erosion of coral sand beaches is the loss of live coral reefs. Orient beach is clearly a coral sand beach which has been supplied coral sand from the reef that protects it at the southern end. Over centuries the coral has been fed on by parrot fish and other fish who grind the coral into sand. As the reefs die the process ceases and so does the supply of sand. I have not snorkeled the orient reef, but the last time a did Shoal Bay East the coral had suffered immensely with heavy bleaching. USA today's Feb. 25 edition explains the process by which carbon enters the oceans and higher levels kill reefs. Just food for thought.

I very much buy into Bobben's explanation. That reef takes a pounding day after day. I think it's not doing as much protecting anymore.

Sounds like what happened on Orient Beach. The reef took a pounding from the hurricane in 1994

John--what's the status with the 'new' restaurants opening on Orient?

Carol, Aloha opened yesterday and by reports I read on another site it has been very busy. Will go down tomorrow to take a pic.

OK, thanks. Anyone else open, other than Aloha?

Are they fully open serving food and drink? thanks.