Neighborhood

Dawn Beach

Dawn Beach is a fine beach of sugar white powdery sand facing the East side of Sint Maarten. The name says it all: early risers may enjoy spectacular views of sunrise with Sint Barths in the distance. Its rolling waters are some of the best for snorkeling and boogie boarding on Sint Maarten. Coral reefs, burgeoning with exotic fish, are within an easy swim from shore. If you just want to relax and work on your tan, it's easy to find a place for a little peace and quiet. Beach chairs and umbrellas are provided everywhere on the beach.

One part of Dawn beach is next to the Westin hotel. The Westin has chairs and umbrellas for guest from the Westin. When your visiting this part of dawn beach you should bring your own beach towel or beach chair. The other side of Dawn Beach is nearby Busby’s Beach bar. You can rent chairs and umbrellas on that part of the beach.

Snorkeling

Under the sea of St. Maarten you will find many beautiful things. Yet what better way to see it, than with a scuba trip, which can be provided by some of the best in the Caribbean. Dawn beach nearby Princess Heights has one of the best snorkeling spots of Sint Maarten. For scuba diving rentals and snorkeling equipment you can go to the scuba diving center at Captain Oliver’s. Rental for a snorkel, fins and a mask are $10 per day. Rental costs for a diving set and a tank are $ 35 per day. For more information please call: 011-590-590-874801

Restaurants

Price indication $ = Very cheap $$ = Normal $$$ = Expensive $$$$ = Very Expensive

Aura $$$
Aura is located in Dawn Beach, at the Westin Resort. It has a French cuisine and Steakhouse at the Westin Resort on Dawn Beach. Fine dining in elegant setting, ocean view. Seafood specialties. Phone: (599) 543 6700

Mr. Busby’s $$

Enjoy fresh local lobster on the beach of Oyster Pond, Dawn Beach. This is an informal, really nice, but not well-known beach restaurant. You can visit Mr. Busby’s for lunch or join the bar crowd with happy hour. At night, Mr. Busby turns into "Daniels by the Sea", for fine dining with Daniel and his seasoned staff, who formerly ran famous "Da Livio" in Philipsburg. They also have take out. Phone: (599) 543-6088

Beau Beau $$$
This restaurant is located in the Oyster Pond area. Open for lunch and dinner from 11 am until 10 pm. Closed on Tuesday. Calypso King Beau Beau and wife Anne-Marie operate this oceanfront restaurant and cabaret. With island music playing in the background, you can enjoy a drink or a meal outside on the deck, by the beautiful pool with the ocean in the front, and St. Barths in the distance. Phone: (599) 543-6049

Big Fish $$$$
Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. The setting of this waterfront eatery is very nice and appealing. The Big Fish restaurant has very nice and friendly service. Phone: (599) 543 - 628

Captain Oliver’s $$

This is a unique restaurant on the island, sitting right on the border of the French and Dutch part of the island. The restaurant is entirely constructed above water, in the heart of the Oyster Pond marina. Lobster buffet on Saturday night, sometimes also as a Sunday brunch buffet. The buffet is excellent, and absolutely worth to go. Captain Oliver´s is also known for its large seawater 'tank' right underneath your glass bottom table, where you can watch real sharks and sea turtles. Phone: (590) 590 87 40 84

Mama Pizza $$
Ample choice in fresh, genuine, crusty, great Italian pizzas, freshly hand-spun from Chef Jean, and prepared in front of your eyes. Either as take-away, or delivered to your home in the Oyster Pond area, also pasta and meat dishes available. In April 2007, the owners built a pleasant, casual al fresco dining area for Mama Pizza, made from local stone. Phone: (599) 527 1009

Le Planteur $$
This restaurant is situated on the hilltop short before the entrance to Captain Oliver's. It has a French cuisine in a nice Creole-style setting with panoramic views. There is also a swimming pool available to patrons of the restaurant. Phone: (590) 0590 29 53 21

Spa & Wellness

The Oyster Pond Area is very lucky to have two beautiful spa’s in it’s neighborhood. One is located next to the Oyster Bay Beach Resort and the other one in the Westin property.

Indulgence by the Sea (Oyster Bay Beach Resort)

Indulgence by the Sea has 3 locations in the Caribbean; One on Aruba and two on St. Maarten. They offer several special treatments and relaxing massages.

Hibiscus Spa (Westin)
Hibiscus Spa is located in the beautiful new resort of the Westin. They offer therapeutic, beautifying, pampering and relaxation treatments. They use organic essential oils and plant subtracts to sustain a blissful sense of well being. Prices for massages start at $ 70,00 for 25 minutes. A daily pass for the sauna and steam room is $ 35.00.

Click here for all the prices and more information

Massage in Room

Captain Olivers

Captain Oliver's Restaurant was established in 1982 by Parisian restaurateur Olivier Lange who emphasizes fresh seafood, French and Creole cuisine. The open-air restaurant is built on pilings above the bay. Below the restaurant is an aquarium for sharks, turtles, tarpon and other native marine life that can be viewed through the glass floor. There is also a large live lobster tank housed beneath the restaurant. Every Saturday night is Captain Oliver's famous seafood buffet. There is a plentitude of deliciously prepared and pleasingly presented food. The offerings include lobster, shrimp, prime rib, lamb, pork, ribs, chicken, fish, salads, side dishes, desserts and much, much more. And of course, there is live entertainment for your dining and dancing pleasure. On Sundays a brunch buffet is offered in addition to the regular menu.

Captain Oliver's Restaurant is open everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner - nonstop from 7:00am to 10:30pm. In addition to the regular menu, there are daily and nightly specials. The restaurant offers views of the yachts in the marina, the ocean, and the "people aquarium". For your enjoyment live entertainment is featured every night during the high season and most nights during the low season. For more information call: (590) 590-874026

Captain Alan

Captain Alan's Boat Charters is located in Great House Marina Dock in Oyster pond opposite to Mr. Busby’s Beach Bar. Captain Alan’s has four powerboats and two catamarans and they can take you on a snorkeling trip, a tour around the island or a daytrip to St. Barths or Anguilla

Three Island Snorkeling Tour

Their St. Maarten Three Island Snorkeling Excursion takes you away from the crowds to the lesser-visited locations of Tintamarre Island, Pinel Island and Green Key for incredible snorkeling, beaches and Volcanic Mud.  Awesome high quality 30ft offshore powerboats with powerful twin 225/250hp engines take you on an exciting 3-stop snorkel adventure in style and comfort.

During their trip around the island you can enjoy the tropical weather, the breeze, the sound of the waters, the music you like, and the drinks and little snacks on board. They will tour you around the island. They will take their time to anchor at beautiful bays, coves and beaches you usually do not visit without a boat. You will also encounter some great snorkeling spots so if you are in for snorkeling you will have the opportunity. For more information and reservations please contact the Front Desk. Price $ 60,00

During their trip around the island you can enjoy the tropical weather, the breeze, the sound of the waters, the music you like, and the drinks and little snacks on board. They will tour you around the island. They will take their time to anchor at beautiful bays, coves and beaches you usually do not visit without a boat. You will also encounter some great snorkeling spots so if you are in for snorkeling you will have the opportunity. Phone: (+559) 5241386

Orient Bay

Orient Bay, or in French "Baie Orientale", sweeps around a blue cove, facing east, as the name suggests. The 2 mile long, white powdered sand beach is protected from the Atlantic waves by a reef, and the bottom has a very gradual slope. The area has been recognized as a marine reserve, so snorkeling in the marine park is just incredible. There is also great snorkeling off nearby Caye Verte (Green Key), one of the small beautiful islands dotting the coast, such as Tintamarre and Pinel Island do. Orient Beach is the most developed, the most popular and the busiest beach on the island, probably the most famous beach in the entire Caribbean. The beach is reputed as much for its natural beauty and setting as it is for being the island’s foremost swimsuit optional beach. You can rent 2 beach chairs and an umbrella for a charge of approximately $15,00.

Orient Bay is loaded with water sports facilities including parasailing, water skiing and snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment is also available at several places on the beach, just as many other amenities. If you want to take windsurfing or kite surfing classes, you should also visit Orient Bay. Wind Adventures Kite school in Orient Bay is specialist in kiting. For more information about the water sport call Wind Adventures: (011) 590 590 29 41 5