Is Aruba a good holiday destination?

Aruba is consistently ranked among the top Caribbean destinations — beautiful beaches, year-round sunshine, very safe, excellent food and activities. Great for couples, families and solo travellers.

What is Aruba most famous for?

Aruba is famous for Eagle Beach (regularly voted one of the world's best), constant trade winds, year-round sunshine outside the hurricane belt, water sports, and the iconic divi-divi trees.

How many days do you need in Aruba?

5–7 days is ideal — enough to visit the top beaches, do a catamaran cruise and jeep tour, explore Oranjestad and relax. 4 days works for a shorter focused trip.

Is Aruba safe for tourists?

Yes — Aruba is one of the safest Caribbean islands. Tourist-targeted crime is very rare. The main precaution is standard awareness in quieter Oranjestad streets at night.

Best Aruba Scuba Diving Tours 2026: Sites + Prices

Aruba scuba diving is one of the most popular topics for visitors planning a trip to Aruba. This guide covers everything you need to know.

Arashi Beach Aruba clear turquoise water snorkelling — Scuba diving in Aruba — the Antilla Shipwreck is the top dive site

Aruba is a solid scuba diving destination anchored by the Antilla — the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean. Warm water year-round (80-84F), visibility typically 15-30 metres, and a well-developed dive infrastructure make it a worthwhile diving destination even if Bonaire and Curacao edge it out for reef diversity.

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Best Dive Sites in Aruba

1. The Antilla Shipwreck

A 400-foot German cargo ship scuttled in 1940, sitting in 18-20 metres off the northwest coast. The largest shipwreck in the Caribbean. Every section is penetrable and entirely covered in coral, sponges, fish, and marine life. Multiple dives to explore fully. This is world-class wreck diving.

2. The Pedernales

WWII oil tanker in 7-9 metres — ideal for beginners and snorkellers. Bow and stern sections separated and both heavily colonised by coral. Perfect shallow dive after the Antilla.

3. Boca Catalina

Healthy reef starting at 5 metres, sea turtles regular, good for beginner open water dives or relaxed shore diving. Excellent snorkelling from the beach too.

4. Mangel Halto

Southern coast near Savaneta. Reef drops to 20+ metres, less crowded than northern sites, excellent marine diversity including rays and eels.

Dive Conditions

Season	Water temp	Visibility
December-April	79-81F (26-27C)	20-30m
May-August	82-84F (28-29C)	15-25m
September-November	83-85F (28-29C)	15-25m

Dive Operators

Main operators on Palm Beach: Aruba Watersports Center, Native Divers Aruba, Red Sail Sports. All PADI certified. Single boat dive $60-80. Two-tank dive $90-120. Antilla dive $65-85. Open Water PADI certification $400-550.

Is Aruba good for scuba diving?

Yes — Aruba has excellent wreck diving anchored by the Antilla, the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean. For reef diving, Bonaire and Curacao are superior, but Aruba warrants a visit for divers specifically for the Antilla.

What is the Antilla wreck in Aruba?

The Antilla is a 400-foot German cargo ship scuttled in 1940, sitting in 18-20 metres off Aruba northwest coast. It is the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean, entirely covered in coral and marine life.

Do you need to be certified to dive in Aruba?

Certification required for boat dives. Discover Scuba experiences available for non-certified guests. Full Open Water courses take 3-4 days and cost approximately $400-550.

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Planning Your Aruba Diving Itinerary

Most divers visiting Aruba plan at least two dives at the Antilla Shipwreck — the scale of the vessel means a single dive only reveals part of it. Day 1: dive the exposed hull and upper structures (18–22 metres). Day 2: explore the cargo holds and penetrate the engine room (22–27 metres, appropriate for divers comfortable with overhead environments). Between the two dives you’ll have seen most of the wreck, though experienced wreck divers often go three or four times and keep finding new sections.

Beyond the Antilla: the Pedernales is a good second choice for a shallow relaxed dive after the deeper Antilla work. Boca Catalina reef at 5–15 metres is excellent for a third day if you want reef ecology rather than wreck diving — the sea turtles here feed on sponges in a completely different underwater environment from the Antilla’s artificial reef ecosystem.

Open Water Certification in Aruba

Several operators offer PADI Open Water certification courses — the full 3-day programme runs approximately $400–550 and includes all pool and ocean dives, equipment, and the certification card. If you’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive, Aruba’s warm, clear, calm western coast water is one of the most comfortable learning environments in the world. You’ll be fully certified by Day 3 and can immediately apply those skills at the Antilla.

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