Aruba snorkeling: Antilla shipwreck, Boca Catalina and the best tours
Aruba's best snorkeling: the Antilla shipwreck, Boca Catalina, Arashi, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach, with directions, levels and snorkel cruises compared.
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Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt and has sunny, dry weather nearly every day. Its snorkeling is concentrated on the calm, sheltered northwest coast between Palm Beach and the California Lighthouse, plus two wrecks you reach by boat. The windward east coast is rough and not for swimming.
Map of Aruba snorkel spots
The Antilla shipwreck
Antilla shipwreck
Off Malmok, northwest coast
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Boat only
- Depth
- Wreck rises to near the surface; bottom about 55 ft
- Visibility
- 40–80 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- On the boat
- Fees and permits
- Included in tour
- What you'll see
- Coral-covered hull, schooling fish, tube sponges
How to get there
Snorkel cruises leave from the piers along Palm Beach. Part of the wreck breaks the surface, so snorkelers can see a lot from above.
12.599° N, 70.064° WDirections
The Antilla was a German cargo ship scuttled off Aruba in 1940. At about 400 feet, it is one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean. Part of the hull sits close to the surface, so snorkelers can see the outline, coral growth and schools of fish without diving.
| Tour | Leaves from | Time | Group | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antilla and Catalina Bay snorkel sailViator: wreck plus open bar | Palm Beach pier | About 3 h | Catamaran | $79 | Check availability |
| Half-day snorkel sail with lunchViator: three stops, lunch | Palm Beach pier | About 4 h | Catamaran | — | Check availability |
| Catamaran snorkeling adventureGetYourGuide: Antilla, Catalina and Arashi | Palm Beach | About 3 h | Catamaran | $124 | Check availability |
| All Antilla shipwreck toursGetYourGuide: browse every option | Aruba | Varies | Varies | $60 | See all tours |
Northwest coast from shore
Boca Catalina
Northwest coast
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–20 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- Palapas, no restrooms
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Parrotfish, sergeant majors, squid, coral rubble
How to get there
On the coast road north of Palm Beach, between Malmok and Arashi. Small parking area. Snorkel to the right along the rocks.
12.584° N, 70.050° WDirections
Arashi Beach
Northwest tip
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–20 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- Restrooms, showers, beach bar
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Reef fish along the rocky left side
How to get there
Near the California Lighthouse at the end of the coast road. Free parking.
12.609° N, 70.054° WDirections
Malmok Beach
Northwest coast
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, rocky
- Depth
- 5–25 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- None
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Pedernales wreck pieces offshore, reef fish
How to get there
Small coves along the coast road. Enter carefully over rocks; wear reef shoes.
12.592° N, 70.059° WDirections
South coast
Mangel Halto
Southeast coast near Savaneta
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–40 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- Picnic huts
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Mangroves, reef drop-off, turtles
How to get there
Off the main road near Pos Chiquito. Shallow lagoon behind mangroves; the reef drops off further out where current can pick up.
12.455° N, 69.948° WDirections
Baby Beach
San Nicolas, southeast tip
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 2–6 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- Restaurants, rentals
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Few fish inside; do not swim past the lagoon mouth
How to get there
About 45 minutes from Palm Beach. Very calm but low on marine life; strong current outside the rocks.
12.418° N, 69.880° WDirections
Tips
- Trade winds blow almost every day. Snorkel in the morning when the water is calmest.
- Rent a car or use the bus to reach the northwest beaches; parking is free.
- Bring reef shoes for rocky entries at Malmok.
- Sunscreen: Aruba bans sunscreens with oxybenzone. See best reef-safe sunscreen.
- Currents at Baby Beach's lagoon mouth and Mangel Halto's reef edge are strong. Read our safety rules.
See how Aruba compares with other islands in the best snorkeling in the Caribbean.
