Aruba is a great place to find diverse snorkeling spots in the Caribbean islands. Also called, “One Happy Island”, it is home to white-sand beaches and clear turquoise waters. In fact, there are plenty of water sports that you can do here. You can go swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and do night dinner yachting.
Aruba Snorkeling Guide!
Its crystal-clear waters, rich marine life, as well as excellent year-round weather are just a few reasons why tourists flock to its shores. The best way to enjoy what Aruba has to offer is to go snorkeling or diving to see the wonders of the deep.
After all, it is not just the beaches here that are stunning. In fact, the sea itself is home to a wide range of sea creatures. You will need to put on your snorkeling gear to see them up close.
Best Snorkeling Spots to Visit in Aruba
Finding the best snorkeling sites in Aruba is not that hard to do. After all, there are several options to consider. All that is left for you to do is to consider what you are looking for in a snorkeling adventure. Let’s take a look.
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Boca Catalina and Catalina Cove
One of the best places to head out to is the Boca Catalina and Catalina Cove. It boasts crystal clear calm waters that make it an ideal place for beginners. The secluded Catalina Bay is the perfect spot to see incredible marine life up close. In fact, this cove is where you can swim with green sea turtles.
You can also head to the nearby Tres Trapi or Three Steps known for its incredible rock formations. Aside from that, you can walk here from Boca Catalina or swim along the shoreline. Join a catamaran snorkel tour to get here. Take note that Boca Catalina can get busy during the weekends. So time for your trip here. If you can, visit here during the weekdays and not during the peak season.
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Antilla Shipwreck
The famous Antilla shipwreck is one of the best spots for snorkelers and scuba divers. This is not surprising since the SS Antilla wreck is one of the largest shipwrecks in the area. You will find it near Malmok Bay at a depth of 60 feet. In fact, you will see parts of it above the waters. The best way to reach the snorkel site is to go on a snorkeling tour or rent a chartered boat.
Other options include underwater scooters, sailboats, and catamaran cruises. They will set sail from Palm Beach where you will find plenty of high-rise hotels and resorts. Once you reach the German freighter, you will find plenty of sea life here. Think moray eels, tropical fish, anemones, and sea turtles. This is the best Aruba snorkeling and diving area that you don’t want to miss. In fact, you will be hard-pressed to find another spot like this in Aruba.
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Mangel Halto Beach
Also referred to as the Spanish Lagoon, Mangel Halto is home to a wide array of sea creatures. Among these are yellowtail snappers, stingrays, and blue tangs. Aside from that, there are coral reefs and mangroves in the area too. Although this beach on the east coast has shallow waters close to the shore, there are strong currents when you head out to the reef.
In addition, the rocky area can be a bit dangerous. Mostly because of the sharp rocks. You can wear booties and a snorkeling vest to make your water adventure more enjoyable. That said, expect to find colorful fish here.
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Arashi Beach
Arashi Beach has fine powdery white sand, palm trees, and beach huts that form a picturesque view. Aside from that, it is also close to the California Lighthouse. You can climb up to get a great view of the area. This is one of the popular snorkels stops for many. Mostly because you can go snorkeling near the shore. However, you need to bring your own equipment since there are no rentals here. Visit Arashi reef to see plenty of hard and soft corals. Or if. you want you can stick to the shore where various tropical fish can be seen.
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Malmok Beach
Malmok Beach offers great Aruba snorkeling from the shore. This is a popular spot in Aruba. So expect the crowd during mid-day. That said, book your snorkeling trip here early in the morning to have it all to yourself. Aside from that, you will have to bring your own snorkel equipment since there are no amenities here. Take note that there are some areas here that have sharp rocks. So bring booties with you.
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Baby Beach
The safest way to go snorkeling for beginners is to do it close to shore. Fortunately, this small beach is a great spot for beginners. Because it is in a protected cove. In fact, you will spot coral reefs inside the shallow bay. Although this is not as popular as other beaches on the south as well as the west side of the island, it is ideal for those who want to get away from the crowd.
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Rodgers Beach
One of the snorkeling options that you will find in Aruba is Rodgers Beach. It is close to Baby Beach but it is not that protected. This means that snorkeling here is not as good as the others. However, what makes it one of the best beaches to head out to is the lack of crowd. It is the perfect place for travelers who want to enjoy the waters minus the tourists.
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De Palm Island
De Palm Island is one of the best spots in Aruba and with good reason. It has plenty of stunning beaches, great restaurants, as well as good snorkeling spots too. Tourists go on snorkel trips here because of its sandy beaches and clear waters. This is not surprising since there is plenty of colorful marine life to spot here.
- Eagle Beach
This is a favorite place for many tourists because of its soft white sand and comfortable accommodations. You can see the deeper waters from the shore. As they are deep blue in color. Aside from that, the waters here are relatively calm even during the rainy season. This means that you can go swimming or snorkeling here at any time. Try their rope swing here to catapult yourself into the open waters.
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Palm Beach
You will find this beach north of Eagle Beach. And is one of the more popular beaches in the Caribbean Sea. In fact, you should book your vacation rental early. Because tourists flock here all the time. You can go on a snorkel cruise from here that will take you to different dive spots. Afterward, you can make your way to Moomba Beach Bar and Restaurant for a bite to eat. Their open bar offers a wide selection of drinks. You can sip drinks here. All the while watching the sunset on the horizon.
Wrap Up Aruba Snorkeling Guide
If you are looking for great snorkeling spots, then Aruba is a good place to start. It covers 180 square miles of land and is one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean. Aside from having easy access to the open ocean. You can also sit back and relax on your hotel’s teak sun deck too. Thanks to the unobstructed trade winds. The average temperature here is just right for a day on the beach. As for water temperatures, they range from cold to warm depending on the season.
The beaches here have plenty of parking for their guests. This means that you can rent a car to head out here. Aside from that, there are plenty of tours that can take you to the best snorkeling spots here. However, if you prefer to travel with just you and your group, you should go for a private tour. This includes round-trip transportation and even packed food too. Aside from that, your guide will take you to the best snorkeling areas where there is a good chance that you will see schools of fish up close.
As you can see, Aruba has snorkeling spots that are perfect for all kinds of tourists. If this is your first time going snorkeling, there are beaches that are ideal for shore snorkeling. On the other hand, for the more adventurous types, there are shipwrecks to see out here too. The best part is that each of these beaches has something interesting to offer. You just need to consider what kind of snorkeling adventure you want to experience here.
