Oyster Pond
Étang aux Huîtres · Captain Oliver's
18°03.1'N 62°59.6'W
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m for excellent holding in 2–5m sand/mud. Oyster Pond is one of the most sheltered anchorages on the island — fully enclosed by reef and land. Standard 55m alarm is ample. The main risk is the reef entrance, not anchor drag once inside.
About This Anchorage
Oyster Pond is a small, almost completely enclosed natural harbour at the eastern tip of the island, straddling the French-Dutch border. It is one of the best-sheltered anchorages on the island — the inner pond behind the reef is calm in almost any conditions. Access is via a narrow reef passage on the eastern end requiring careful pilotage (good light, polarised sunglasses to read the water, slow speed). Captain Oliver's Marina lines the western shore and provides full marina services, a good restaurant, and acts as the customs/immigration point of entry for the Dutch side at this location. The Captain Oliver's Bridge on the western end connects Oyster Pond to the main French inner lagoon — it opens twice daily (times posted at the marina) and allows access between Oyster Pond and the lagoon via the eastern route, bypassing Simpson Bay Bridge entirely. An increasingly popular back-door route for vessels arriving from the east.
Protected From
N · S · E · W · NE · NW · SE · SW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Anchoring: free outside marina; marina berths available at Captain Oliver's
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- Available — use in preference to anchoring
Restrictions: Reef entrance requires careful pilotage — do not attempt in poor light or with swell from astern above 1m; hail Captain Oliver's on VHF 16 for pilotage advice; Captain Oliver's Bridge: limited opening times (check on arrival); Dutch side customs at Captain Oliver's for vessels arriving from sea.
Hazards
- !Reef entrance: narrow, minimum 2m in channel — entry requires good light (polarised sunglasses), calm swell, slow speed
- !Do not attempt entry in poor visibility, at night, or with swell from the east above 1m
- !Captain Oliver's Bridge: limited opening times — vessel dimensions must be within bridge limits (smaller than Simpson Bay Bridge)
- !Border region: French/Dutch border passes through the pond — carry clearance papers for both sides
Skipper's Tips
- →Call Captain Oliver's Marina on VHF 16 before entering — they will give current pilotage advice and confirm whether the reef passage is suitable for your draft
- →Entry is best attempted mid-morning with good light; stand on the bow or spreaders to read the water colour through polarised sunglasses
- →Oyster Pond is much quieter than Simpson Bay Lagoon — excellent alternative for sailors wanting shelter without the crowds
- →The Captain Oliver's Bridge gives an eastern route into the French lagoon — coordinate with the marina for opening times
- →This is the only port of entry on the eastern side of the island — vessels arriving from Anguilla or St. Barths from the east can clear in here
Facilities
Captain Oliver's Marina restaurant and bar. Fuel dock at marina. Water and electricity at marina berths. Small provisions shop at marina.
Nearest provisions: Captain Oliver's Marina shop (on site) (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Year-round anchorage (fully enclosed). Hurricane season: one of the better-sheltered options on the island but no anchorage is safe in a major hurricane.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 55m
Simpson Bay Lagoon is the busiest cruising anchorage in the northern Caribbean — anchor drag in a crowded lagoon overnight can be catastrophic. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and alerts you before drift becomes dangerous.
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