For added discussion....

I disscussed nudity with the head of toruism at Sandy Ground, St Martin back in 2004.

I asked if I can go nude anywhere?

His reply: "The naturism label requires from the nudist not to offend by their nudity.

Most nudists associations work at identifying the areas where naturists can go nude without chocking anyone. Nudity in private clubs and homes is legal. Consequently, all naturists clubs and centers are legal. You usually do not need to be concerned with the law if your nudity is practiced within a private location such as a club."

I asked if there are different types of beaches?

He replied - "Among the naturist or nudist community, there are indeed three (3) different types of beaches:

1. The authorized beaches: they guarantee a practice of naturism under the covering of a municipality and are generally controlled and managed by a club or some sort of vacation centre.

2. The tolerated beaches: These are beaches where the practice of naturism is established for a number of years without having ever reproved by local authorities or administration.

3. The wild beaches: On such beaches one is aware of the frequentation, but it is not necessarily authorized. The practice of naturism or nudism can be sanctioned by a report."

Bobcat, a very interesting dialogue considering 1, there is a nude section at Le Sand on Baie Nettle and 2) there is no discussion of the warning signs that I believe address the Collective on all French beaches. Suggest you start a new thread on this topic. I would be interested in hearing opinions on where Baies Longue, Rouge, aux Prunes and Happy Bay fall into the 3 categories you listed.

Hi. You are correct, I made this it's own thread, since it really is a different issue.

It was a long time ago but I'm sure some of the old timers will remember the NO NUDITY SIGN posted on Long Bay Beach, no longer there. Can't say for Plum or Red beaches.

PS Thanks for moving this Carol.

A random thought, but Bobcat said he discussed this in '04. Since much of what happens on most of the island beaches is what's 'accepted' or 'normal' or even 'tolerated' at any given point in time, the date of his discussion may mean that all of this is old info and subject to change by the norms of today.

There was a time when Baie Oriental was merely a beach so infrequently visited that nobody really cared about clothed or not. And then, it changed.

The original naturist club and then the storm that brought about its rebuilding closer to and immediately along the beach, along with all the more upscale development this beach has seen has caused a huge change in the casual visitors demographics, habits and practices so talking about something said 11 a 12 years ago MIGHT have absolutely no 'baring' on today's practices.

Back in the early days nobody knew or cared if the occasional co person walked the beach, but obviously someone further along the timeline did, hence the arrival of the occasional gendarme telling walkers to cover up outside of the CO area.

Just thinking out loud and not meaning to offend anyone or start an uproar here..... <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 really love the idea of a Warning sigh for a nude beach.

Somehow my mind boggles about the idea of a human body being obscene and offensive.

Bombing innocent civilians is obscene, but it gets aired every night on the news. Plundering the stock exchange and making millions is also obscene, but never censored.

Someone sunbathing nude is all but obscene, if it causes you an issue, then you have twisted mind.

Long Bay Beach in not a nude beach.

I've been to Baie Longue and have seen nudes to the far right of the public access almost every time. I think that the majority were local because of the number plates of vehicles parked a the entrance.

You may see nudes on any of the remote beaches from time to time, no question about that.

I'm all for doing what makes you happy, with one personal stipulation. If you're nude and come up to me to chat while I'm sitting, please sit too

When we discovered St Martin back in 2003, nudity was practiced on remote sections the west end of Baie Rouge and Baie Lounge to the right of the entrance. Lounge is now restricted and for a brief time a No Nudity sign was posted at Baie Rouge. Enforcement was non-existent.
Still can't understand why some folks think being nude is obscene, but allowing banks to rip off people is nothing. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

...but please sit on your own towel! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Whenever I go naked, I always have a towel to sit on. In all nudist camp sites it is compulsory.

Agreed, that is positively nudist etiquette. One person said that someone should sit if they are sitting. The problem becomes if someone is walking the beach, they don't normally have their towel WITH them. It's normally on their chair, unless they planned on sitting down somewhere else. So the person often ends up standing, which is what we do, unless someone INVITES us to sit on their towels. I don't really see this as a big issue. Seems pretty common sense.

I was making a joke. I crack myself up, but obv no one else

Oh, ok.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Last we were on island was 2014. We were and saw nudes on Baie Longue, Baie aux Prunes, Happy Bay, and of course Cupecoy. While it is not legal on any of those beaches no one cared and no one complained. Most importantly people just kept to themselves and were discrete. We also never saw any gendarmes.

Funny how once one group goes nude many others follow 'suit'. Hope to find things haven't changed much when we return in June.

I was right with you there buddy.

When we first visited SXM 12 years ago we tried lots of beaches and loved them all. We'd visit again if they had C/O sections. As much as I love Club O beach, I'd still like to be able to visit others and enjoy them as I see fit. Tintamarre was great too. Now I understand you can only be nude if you sit still and don't walk anywhere. Dumbest rule ever. Does the gendarmerie actually go out there to enforce it?

The current "rule" is the result of a compromise that permits nudity on the Tintamarre beach - but does not permit walking the length of the beach nude. The compromise is like the written understanding between Cocos and the Prefecture about the C/O section at Cocos. You certainly would not want to make the argument to the government or the Prefet that the current "rule" is the "dumbest ever." I think there is little question about how they would eliminate any ambiguity in the "rule."