These are all the official divesites in Aruba. There are many other possibilities like like hotel house reefs, which are not listed here, you may dive them off course but always ask first what their rules are. Information © of Harry Buikhuizen.
01. The
Vera
The Vera is a freighter that
sank near Aruba in 1954 on its way from South to North America.
The crewmen, who were saved by an Aruban captain, claimed that
the cargo was Nazi gold and valuables.
02.
Cudarebo Rocks
Huge waves crash around the Cudarebo Rocks at the northernmost
point of the island. On calm days, divers and snorkelers will
encounter a multitude of fish here. go
to top
03.
The Californian
The steamer Californian was
stranded on the rocks jutting out from Aruba's northwest coast.
go to top
04.
Skeleton Cave
Skeleton Cave, which can be entered between the coast and an
enormous piece of broken rock, got its name when human bones were
found here. It has not been established if they were from the
Indians that lived in Aruba's caves long ago. go to top
05.
French Bark
Artifacts from the wreck of a
French Bark stranded on the rocks near the Natural Bridge wash
ashore at nearby Andicuri Beach from time to time. go to top
06.
Black Beach
Black Beach was named for the rounded
black stones that line the shore. It is the only bay on the
island's north coast that is sheltered from the waves, allowing
for safe diving. Many sea fans, fish and lobsters can be seen in
the clear waters here. go to top
07. Father
Piet Cave
Father Piet Cave can be reached from Rincon
Beach by snorkelers. The waters are shallow, and the snorkeling
conditions are excellent in both the cave and the clear lagoon at
Rincon. go to
top
08. The
Captain Roger
Many colorful fish inhabit the
wreck of an old tugboat, the Captain Roger, lying just off the
coast at Seroe Colorado. A steep coral reef nearby is accessible
from shore. go to top
09. Shark
Caves
At the Shark Caves you can get
very close to sleeping nurse and sand sharks. go to top
10. Punta
Basora
Punta Basora is the
easternmost point of Aruba, from which a narrow reef stretches
far out into the sea. On calm days, divers will see tuna,
ballyhoo, eagle rays, stingrays, barracudas, dorados, hammerhead
sharks and hawskbill and loggerhead turtles pass by on their way
around this point of the island. go to top
11. Pet
Cemetery
A wide reef stretches out
along the coast by the Pet Cemetery - resplendent with elkhom and
staghom coral, different kinds of finger and pencil coral, giant
brain coral, mustard-hill coral, sea fans and the encrusted,
leafy and square types of stinging coral. The reef continues on
past Baby Beach, where it becomes narrower and steeper until you
are past the Esso Club. Schools of sturgeon pass by, along with
curious trunk and cowfish, triggerfish, large and small
parrotfish, damselfish and gobies. go
to top
12.
Submarine Island
The widening reef past the
entrance to the bay is very colorful, with an abundance of soft
corals waving their branches in the currents. At Submarine
Island, there is a deep ravine where you will see schools of
large groupers. go
to top
13.
Zeewijk, 14 Savaneta
The stretch of reef from
Zeewijk (13) to Savaneta (14) is very narrow, as the water
becomes quite deep very close to the shore. There is less coral
here, but more shells are found, a sign that nature divides its
bounty evenly among its inhabitants. go
to top
15. Isla
di Oro
The diving is excellent at
Isla di Oro, where a wide stretch of reef grows far out along the
shallow bank. French, gray and queen angelfish will swim up very
close to you; porcupine fish can be seen hiding in the crevasses;
brightly colored trumpet fish dart in and out among the coral and
green moray eels peek out from their holes to see who is passing
by. go to top
16.
Hole in the Wall , 17. Mangel Halto
The Hole in the Wall (16) is a
very popular dive spot, since you can dive with the current past
the steep and narrow reef wall all the way to Mangel Halto (17).
At Mangel Halto, the current pushes you through the sandy channel
back into the lagoon, where there is a beautiful, shady beach
ideally suited for an afternoon of sunning, snorkeling or
picnicking. go
to top
18. Palm
Island
The waters surrounding Palm
Island are a colorful dive site, where the reef stretches on and
on, hidden behind the serene mangroves of the reef islands. This
part of the island's reef system, all the way to Oranjestad, is
only accessible by boat but is very interesting, with its immense
diversity of marine life. There are crevices in the reef where
nurse sharks sleep during the day, allowing you to get very close
and even touch them. go to top
19. The
Jane C
The wreck of the Jane C lies
just outside the coral reef west of Palm Island. The sea has
taken possession of the wreck corals grow profusely on the steel
plates of decks and cabins, and soft corals wave in the currents
that flow in and out of the ports. This is a good spot for a
night dive, when the polyps of the corals come out and the wreck
seems enveloped in a halo of colors. go to top
20. The
Wall
The Wall is a beautiful reef
inhabited by a multitude of green sea turtles during egg laying
season, from May to August. Diving over the edge down this steep
wall is an exiting experience-gorgons spread their long branches;
dark crevices and grottos hide groupers, murenes and burrfish. On
the upper part of the reef are fine examples of star coral,
flower coral and black coral, while enormous sheet corals abound
closer to the shore. Grooved, knobby and smooth brain corals grow
ever,/where in between together with scroll and ribbon corals.
Rockbeautys, damselfish and porgys swim back and forth, while
jackknife fish peer from under coral mounds. You could dive here
for weeks and see something new every day. go to top
21.
Barcadera
At the entrance to Barcadera
the coral grows thin due to the sand, which is the enemy of all
coral - Only the bigger kinds, like staghorn, elkhom and pillar
coral, grow near the reef islands. Further out, on the edge of
the bank and out of reach of the sand, the other corals have a
better chance of survival. go to top
22.
Sonesta Island, 23. Submerged Planes, 24. Harbor Exit, 25.
Tugboat
Just in front of the Sonesta
Island (22) are two submerged planes (23) that make an
interesting dive site. The reef widens and improves again from
here to the harbor exit of Oranjestad (24). Past that is the
harbor reef, with clear waters and an abundance of extremely high
soft corals. Sometimes it feels as if you are swimming in the
woods with strange trees all around. At the foot of this reef
lies a tugboat (25), about 80 feet deep, that is the home of two
giant green murenes. go to top
26.
Eagle Beach
This part of the coast has the
calmest conditions for diving. The waters are shallow far out to
sea, and there are widespread reefs and seagrass fields. All
kinds of shells live here, octopuses abound, barracudas hunt for
prey and many types of rays vying their way past. go to top
27.
Pedernales
The Pedernales was torpedoed
by a German submarine during World War II. Rescuers towed it to
shallow water and cut out the damaged middle part. The two halves
were welded together, and the ship served as a troop transport
for D Day. go to top
28.
Rum Runner
The Rum Runner was an old
wooden Danish fishing boat converted for tourist cruises. When it
was no longer serviceable, it was sunk. It is now a habitat for
fish, lobster and turtles, with corals and beautiful anemones
growing on the hull. go to top
29.
Antilla
The largest wreck in the South
Caribbean, the Antilla, was a German freighter confiscated at the
start of World War II. The German crew opened its valves and let
it sink rather than be confiscated. This is a very popular day or
night dive site, where everything that lives under the sea can be
seen. You can pose for a photograph in the Captain's bathtub,
which lies beside the wreck. go to
top
