Scuba Diving in Aruba

Featured diving activities

• The Antilla
• Wreck Scuba Diving
• Night Scuba Diving
• Reef Scuba Diving
• Wall Scuba Diving

One of the most unforgettable experiences while in Aruba is scuba diving. Divers see a fabulous array of corals and fish, some even spot a seahorse and see how stingrays hover above the seabed. Swimming slowly over the corals, you're bound to see lobsters, moray eels and other exotic sea life. If you're lucky, you may even come across an energetic dolphin or a gentle sea turtle.

Scuba diving equipment may seem pretty complicated to the uninitiated scuba diver. Should you choose to enroll for a one-hour course in a pool you'll find it's not as difficult as it seems. You'll learn to clear your mask while underwater and your Aruba scuba diving instructor will patiently practice the diving skills with you until you feel comfortable and in control of your equipment. After the initial pool session is complete, you will then dive with your instructor and other scuba divers at various scuba dive-sites near the Aruba coast.

Scuba diving near Aruba's south coast is often fascinating and calm since this is the lee side of the island and as a result waves and currents are not as strong. The northern coast is also spectacular, though much rougher, as the sea splashes onto the shore with more momentum from a much longer distance.

Off the south coast of Aruba, you can do a reef dive at Mangel Alto, which is located between Oranjestad and San Nicolas, near the drive-in cinema. There is an abundance of corals in all shapes and sizes; and colorful fish ranging from electric blue to bright orange.

You can also go reef-diving at Baby Beach, at the eastern-most part of Aruba, and also at Malmok Beach, near the California Light House on the northern end of the island.

Aruba Scuba Diving Icon - The Antilla

Another popular Aruba scuba diving site is at the Antillian shipwreck, which dates from World War II. When you approach the wreck by boat, which most scuba day packages include, you can see part of the ship sticking out of the water.

Once submerged, you'll see the ship stretch over 400 feet. Now that some 60 years have gone by, this wreck is considered to be a man-made reef where much marine life have come to feed and explore themselves.

You might have one niggling question: "Great fun, but what about sharks?"

Sharks are often portrayed in movies as vicious and aggressive man-eaters. In reality, however, sharks keep to themselves and the chances of getting injured by a shark are much less than the chances of being struck by lightning!

Sharks are more like scavengers than predators, and it is very rare to be injured by sharks or other marine animals for that matter. Accidents only happen if the animal feels it has to defend itself.

The most common of injuries as a result of Aruba scuba are the corals and sponges that may be harmful to you if you touch them. In case you accidentally touch or scrape one, your dive master can quite easily treat the sting with ointment.

The golden rule while scuba diving in Aruba is to dive sensibly and responsibly.

Wreck scuba diving in Aruba

In addition to the Antilles, there are a several other wrecks near Aruba that make for great scuba diving. Let your imagination run free and add to the mysteriousness of these age-old wrecks lying at the bottom of the sea. Where was the captain's cabin? What caused the ship to sink? Was it a war ship? You may find it helpful to learn about the site by reading beforehand or asking your dive instructor.

Once you begin your dive you'll notice the numerous fish in and around the wreck that are feeding on variety of marine vegetation thriving in the area.

Night scuba diving

In addition to reef scuba diving, night diving is also very popular in Aruba. Reefs look completely different at night. The combination of spectacular reefs combined with the adventure factor will give you a thrill you'll never forget. An underwater torch will enable you to get a clearer look at all there is to see.

Aruba Reef scuba diving

This is by far the most popular type of scuba diving in Aruba. Depending on where you dive, you'll be able to see corals of all shapes, lengths and colors including those found at shipwrecks and rock formations. Each place you choose to go scuba diving in Aruba has its own uniqueness and every time you go will be different from the last.

Wall scuba diving

In scuba diving terms, a wall means a steep plunge of the seabed going down for many meters. Many divers find this is the best way to go scuba diving since many fish live and feed off the wall. The vastness of the blue water above and beyond the wall is a thrilling feeling.

If you are not interested in scuba diving in Aruba, but still want to explore Aruba's vast waters, consider renting snorkeling equipment or taking a tour on a glass submarine.