Scuba Diving in Aruba: A Wreck Diver’s Paradise

Aruba sits just 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. With its sunny, warm weather year-round and waters teeming with marine life, this island offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean. This means if you’re a diver and are going to Aruba, you have to give scuba diving in Aruba a shot.

Want to know why its a must? Let’s take a deeper look at everything you need to know about scuba diving in Aruba and why its a must-add to your itinerary.

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Why Scuba Dive in Aruba?

Aruba is a diver’s paradise. It offers clear waters, year-round warm temperatures, and an incredible variety of marine life. The island also has something for every level of diver. You can choose from shallow reefs, perfect for beginners, to shipwrecks and drift dives, available to advanced divers.

With visibility often exceeding 100 feet, you can easily explore Aruba’s coral formations, swim alongside sea turtles, and discover the history of WWII-era wrecks. Additionally, Aruba’s consistently calm waters and minimal currents make it one of the most accessible diving destinations in the Caribbean.

Aruba Diving Conditions

Not yet convinced that scuba in Aruba is right for you? Take a look at these diving conditions. They don’t get better than that!

• Water Temperature: 78 – 86°F (25 – 31°C) year-round
• Visibility: 68 – 100 feet (20 – 30 meters)
• Depth Range: 5 – 131 feet (1.5 – 40 meters)
• Difficulty: Suitable for all levels, from beginner divers to advanced ship wreck divers

Aruba Marine Life

Another reason Aruba scuba diving is so popular? The range of underwater ecosystems, from coral reefs to seagrass beds, support a wide variety of marine life. Commonly spotted species include seahorses, green turtles, and loggerhead turtles, particularly in the seagrass beds along the northwestern coast.

Divers can also encounter large brain and mountain corals adorned with colorful tube sponges, moray eels hiding within, and schools of angelfish decorating the reefs. Occasionally, lucky divers might spot mantas, stingrays, or even sharks around the deeper, more exposed reef sites.

Scuba Diving Certifications in Aruba

To enjoy the full range of dive sites that Aruba has to offer, you’ll need a valid scuba diving certification, such as an Open Water Diver certification from PADI or another recognized agency.

If you aren’t certified, don’t lose hope. Most dive shops on the island offer courses for beginners who want to get certified while on vacation. The most popular options are the PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses.

For those new to scuba diving, Discover Scuba Diving in Aruba is a great way to experience diving without needing a certification. This introductory experience allows you to dive under the guidance of a professional instructor. You’ll learn basic skills in shallow water before heading out to explore a real dive site.

If you’re curious about the underwater world but not ready to commit to a full certification, Discover Scuba is your answer!

Types of Diving in Aruba

Aruba’s dive sites vary from easy shore diving to deep shipwreck dives that require boats to get there. Whatever your preference, you’re sure to find a dive site that matches your criteria.

Shore Diving in Aruba

Shore diving offers the convenience of walking right into the water from the beach. This makes it ideal for beginners who aren’t quite ready for deeper water or taking that giant stride off the boat. It also tends to be a lower cost option.

In Aruba, you’ll find there are several shallow wrecks and reefs close to shore, such as the popular Pos Chiquito and Mangel Halto. These areas are attractive options for both divers and snorkelers.

Boat Diving in Aruba

For more options, take a dive boat to access more remote and deeper sites that can’t be reached from the shore. Most wrecks, like the famous SS Antilla Shipwreck, are best explored by boat. Dive boats in Aruba depart regularly from the island’s southern coast, catering to divers of all skill levels.

Night Diving in Aruba

For a truly unique experience, try scuba diving Aruba after sun set. Night dives are only available at select dive sites, allowing you to see marine life in a new light — literally. This is when nocturnal creatures emerge.

Watch as the reef comes alive with lobsters, moray eels, and octopuses, and keep an eye out for bioluminescent organisms glowing in the dark. Night dives are typically reserved for certified divers with some experience, but many dive operators offer guided night dives for advanced beginners.

5 Top Dive Sites in Aruba

Aruba offers 17 official dive sites to explore, including 13 reef dives, 7 drift dives, and 6 wreck dives (some qualify for more than one category). Here are the top five dive sites in Aruba that you’ll want to check out.

1. The Antilla Shipwreck

Aruba’s most famous dive site, the Antilla is a massive WWII-era German freighter scuttled in 1940. It offers some of the best scuba diving in Aruba. Measuring over 393 feet long, it is the largest wreck in the Caribbean. The ship lies in 20 to 60 feet of water, making it accessible to both beginners and more advanced divers.

Today, it is covered in coral and sponges attracting a variety of marine life, including moray eels, tropical fish, and lobsters. The spacious compartments of the ship offer plenty of opportunities for wreck penetration and exploration. The wreck’s shallowest parts can even be viewed by snorkelers on the surface.

2. The Pedernales Shipwreck

A favorite site for novice divers in Aruba, the Pedernales is an oil tanker that was partially destroyed by a German torpedo during WWII. Resting at a shallow depth of 33 feet, the wreck provides plenty of light and calm conditions, making it ideal for beginners and snorkelers.

While the ship’s structure is fragmented, its various sections have become artificial reefs, home to marine life such as stingrays, parrotfish, angelfish, and moray eels.

3. Finger’s Reef

Finger’s Reef, located on Aruba’s southern coast, gets its name from its finger-shaped coral formations that point toward the deeper ocean. This site is best suited for experienced divers due to its stronger currents and deeper depth.

The reef stretches down to around 70 feet and is home to a colorful array of corals and marine life. Turtles, shrimps, moray eels, and larger fish such as rays are common sightings. This reef is considered a paradise for underwater photographers.

4. The Jane C Shipwreck

The Jane C is a sunken cargo ship that now serves as a thriving artificial reef in Aruba. Resting near the Barcadera Reef, the wreck’s deepest point, the propeller, is at a depth of 88 feet. That makes this site ideal for advanced divers.

Turtles, trumpetfish, and nurse sharks frequent the area, while great barracudas and eagle rays are often seen circling the wreck. The rich sponge-covered exterior of the Jane C offers plenty of opportunities for marine life encounters and wreck exploration.

5. Renaissance Island’s Airplane Wrecks

Located just off Renaissance Island, home of the popular Flamingo Beach, this unique dive site features two sunken airplanes: a YS-11 turboprop and a DC-3. Both now serve as artificial reefs. The YS-11 lies at around 40 feet, making it suitable for beginners, while the DC-3 was broken in two by a hurricane and rests at a deeper 78 feet, requiring a more advanced qualification.

Both of these underwater plane wrecks in Aruba are teeming with marine life, including morays, stingrays, and barracudas. Divers can explore the interiors of the aircraft, spotting remains of the propellers, cockpit, and fuselage.

Activities for Non-Scuba Divers in Aruba

If you’re not a certified scuba diver, Aruba still offers a lot of opportunities to explore its most famous underwater sites.

Snorkeling

The most common activity for non-divers in Aruba is snorkeling. In fact, the island is a fantastic destination for snorkelers, with plenty of shallow wrecks and reefs located close to shore. The calm, clear waters make snorkeling a great alternative for those who aren’t ready to scuba dive but still want to experience the island’s marine life.

To snorkel in Aruba, bring your own gear or you can rent it around the island. I personally like to bring my own as I can snorkel anytime I want, anywhere I want – for free! If you don’t already own snorkel gear, check out this traditional mask or a full face snorkel mask. It’s definitely more affordable to buy and take with you than rent on the island.

Atlantis Submarine Tour

For a unique underwater experience without getting wet, the Aruba Atlantis Submarine Tour is perfect. This US Coast Guard-certified submarine dives to depths of up to 130 feet, allowing you to explore shipwrecks and coral reefs from the comfort of an air-conditioned cabin.

A professional guide provides narration as you descend into the waters of the Barcadera Reef, where you’ll see marine life, including tropical fish and possibly even sea turtles. This activity is suitable for all ages, making it an ideal family-friendly adventure. Check availability here.

SNUBA

For those who want to experience Aruba’s underwater world but don’t want to dive, SNUBA® is a great middle ground. SNUBA combines the best of snorkeling and scuba diving, allowing you to breathe underwater without heavy gear. It is suitable for adults and children as young as eight years old.

Guided by a trained SNUBA instructor, you’ll explore coral formations and swim with schools of tropical fish, all while floating comfortably at the surface. SNUBA is only available at De Palm Island so you’ll want to make a day of it. Choose from a De Palm Island day trip with transport or without transport.

Where to Stay in Aruba for Scuba Diving

Aruba offers a great variety of accommodations, from luxurious all-inclusive beach resorts to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. However there are no true dive resorts in Aruba. You’ll have to pick a hotel and travel to the dive shops or arrange transportation with the dive operators.

That being said, there are a few dive shops up in the Palm Beach area and others based along the island’s south coast so where you stay to scuba dive in Aruba is mostly irrelevant. Because of that, I’d recommend picking a top tier hotel to make your stay in Aruba amazing.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Ritz-Carlton Aruba: Located in Palm Beach, this resort features elegant rooms, a luxurious spa, multiple dining options, and stunning ocean views. Check availability now.

• Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino: Situated on the Palm Beach strip, this resort features beautiful beachfront access, a large pool area with waterfalls, a world-class spa, and a variety of restaurants and bars. Check availability now.

• Marriott Aruba Resort and Stellaris Casino: This upscale resort in Palm Beach offers spacious rooms, a large casino, several dining options, and a stunning beachfront. Check availability now.

• Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort: An adult-only resort located on Eagle Beach, Bucuti & Tara offers an intimate atmosphere with a focus on sustainability. The resort features spacious suites, fine dining, and personalized service. Check availability now.

• Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba: Also located in Palm Beach, the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel offers a more intimate experience with its colorful, spacious suites and lush tropical gardens. Check availability now.

Note: There are currently no scuba liveaboards in Aruba. You’ll have to stay at a dive resort in Aruba to be close to the action.

Map of Aruba Hotels

Find your perfect place to stay with this overview map of the hotels in Aruba.