Looking at the beach from the Perch camera it looks like the winter replenishment of sand in not going so well. Usually the beach grows in winter.

Very cool High Definition drone video of Orient Beach taken 01/19/2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAeaRlfUB3c&feature=youtu.be
Perch & Pedro's beach situation are clearly seen at the 1:45 and 2:30 minute marks.

Looking at the webcam today, I think the beach is getting a little wider. The flagpole is back up, the only thing missing is me.

"But then I think about the good times, down in the Caribbean sunshine..." (J.B.)

Yes, that is very cool. Thanks Mainahs. Don't have to be there to get a birds' eye view of the beach and see firsthand what the conditions are.

I read somewhere that they hauled in some sand for the front of the Perch and for the flagpole situation. Therefore the beach may not be widening entirely by natural causes.

As of Feb 7th 2017, we were surprised to find that between Pedro's and the Perch, there are 4-5 foot drop-off's from the Club O grounds to the beach.
At the Perch, we noticed an 18" step from the beach to the first step on the Perch wooden steps! Which makes the line for the happy hour interesting. This was addressed, by 9am, by the Club O tractor pushing a lot of sand in-front of the Perch, to get rid of this missing sand issue. We also noticed that there was a good bit of erosion under the water side of the Perch deck, for about 3 or 4 feet. Certainly a lot of beach missing.
At the Papaguyo end, the rock wall, which was built with a sandy path on top, seems to be doing its job. However, there seems to be more sand missing from this part of the bay, as we noticed, from someone braving the waves to walk around Papagayo, on the water side, that it seemed to be about 6 or 7 feet, up to the Papaguyo level.
Hoping that something happens to bring the sand back to this part of the beach.

Peter and Amy

Peter/Amy - Thanks so much for the update. It looks like getting a front row could be a bit challenging this year, given the width of the beach. We're leaving tomorrow morning (hopefully); getting 12-18" of snow here in Boston today! But, will make it all the better when we get there!
Mainahs - Thanks for the link to the great video. Watched it twice so far!

Separately, has anyone gone to the CO V-Day dinner? We found dinners at CO a bit hit or miss. Good food? Overly crowded that evening? Worth going?

Thanks, Mark

Originally posted by soxfan

Peter/Amy - Thanks so much for the update. It looks like getting a front row could be a bit challenging this year, given the width of the beach. We're leaving tomorrow morning (hopefully); getting 12-18" of snow here in Boston today! But, will make it all the better when we get there!
Mainahs - Thanks for the link to the great video. Watched it twice so far!

Separately, has anyone gone to the CO V-Day dinner? We found dinners at CO a bit hit or miss. Good food? Overly crowded that evening? Worth going?

Thanks, Mark

We're here now. If you're staying here it shouldn't be a problem getting front row. We arrived Monday night and I went out early Tuesday morning and found and tagged our chairs in the front row.

It's been a few years since we went to a Club O Valentines dinner, we found the food ok. We prefer to go elsewhere for that occasion.

The Simpsons

From the Perch Cam it looks like the beach has come back some. Can anyone give a current beach sand report?

I have heard that they hauled sand in, and that what you're seeing as far as improvement is more man made than nature made.

We are in SXM now and were here in early February. The sand has come back nicely. You can walk from Club O past Pedro's on the beach, no water to walk through. Natural sand has come back as rocks uncovered in shallow water just off the beach are now fully covered in sand for easy walking in the shallow water.

We got back 25 March and the sand seemed to be rolling back in during our nine days, not by the tons but it was coming back.

Just arrived at Club O yesterday. Checked out the beach this morning, there is much more sand by Pedro's but the rest of the beach has lost quite a bit. It is much smaller than when we were here 2 years ago. It is great to be back to the best beach accommodations around.

The beach is narrow (two rows) from about the Perch to about the beach chalets where is is wider. At the waterfront chalets there is enough beach for three rows. Then it narrows a bit toward Papagayos. All things considered, not a bad situation.

Sand was hauled in to put over the rocks in front of Pedro's.