Aruba Watersafety Institute, Aruba Watersafety Institute, AWASI.
0000 Santa Cruz
ABW
We have been teaching swimming to 3rd class elementary school students in Aruba since 1992 through IDEFRE, a sports department run by the government of Aruba. Specifically, well-trained lifeguards as certified rescue divers support openwater swimmers during training and competitions (on kayaks). Since 2022 at AWASI, we have decided to focus on providing lifeguard- and dive courses/tours in the diving industry.
We at AWASI are committed to providing every customer with the finest equipment, dive education, and unmatched personal service. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that swimming, lifeguarding, and diving become a lifetime adventure through high-quality training experiences for everyone.
Our instructors will guide you at your own pace to a level of proficiency that ensures continuous enjoyment in these sports. We guarantee exceptional swimming-, lifeguarding- and diving experiences through small classes, flexible schedules, individual tuition, and unlimited water time for all our customers.
AWASI is here to support you in making informed purchasing decisions that help you achieve your personal goals. We guarantee our service and equipment, allowing you to dive with confidence at AWASI.
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Affiliated Divesites View on map
★★★★☆ Arashi (Wreck)
A fascinating reef for beginners. Parts of a sunken Lockheed Lodestar are scattered at 35 feet of water. Coral formations, parrot and angelfish surround the airplane wreckage and coral heads.
★★★★☆ Antilla (Wreck)
The Antilla is the largest shipwreck dive in the Caribbean at 400 feet long. Most of the ship is still intact and divers can explore the porthole, deck fitting, and interior sections. The Antilla is probably the most popular dive site in Aruba.
★★★★☆ Barcadera Reef
Barcadera Reef is located in front of the harbour of the same name. The spot is only accessible by boat and is extremely suitable for drift diving.
★★★★☆ Star Gerren
The Star Gerren is a ship of German origin that was abandoned in a harbour in 1996. Because the owner was unknown and the ship deteriorated further, it was decided to sink it in 2000 and use it as an artificial reef.
★★★★☆ Blue Reef / Debbie II (Wreck)
This reef is known for its huge lobsters and stingrays taking their daily “siesta“ waiting to be photographed. Giant barrel sponges in purple, orange and green are found everywhere. In 1992, a 120’ fuel barge was sunk as an additional attraction. The wreck attracts schooling fish and barracudas.
★★★★☆ Sponge Reef
This site is named Sponge Reef for good reason: it is covered in brightly colored, large sponges as far as the eye can see. Turtles also frequent this site.
★★★★☆ Airplanes (Wreck)
A very unique dive, Airplanes is accessible by either boat or shore and boasts not one, but two decommissioned airplanes sunk as artificial reefs. The Convair 240 is a 40 seater aircraft 74 ft long sitting in 80 feet of water (it moved deeper than it originally was after a hurricane).
★★★★☆ Mangel Halto Reef
A sloping reef from 15’ down to 110’ good for both snorkeling and scuba diving and a great night dive location. Lots of coral combinations and plenty of marine life. An easy shore dive entry.
★★★★☆ Jane Sea (Wreck)
A 250’ cement freighter sitting upright on the bottom in 90’ of water. The wreck attracts lots of schooling tropical fish and large barracudas. Deep water gorgonians, sponges and coral growing on the wreck. Excellent for photography. The reef starts in 20 feet of water and is good for snorkeling.
★★★★☆ Pedernalis (Wreck)
This is a fun, shallow wreck that is mostly intact. Due to its shallow depth it is a VERY popular stop for all of the snorkel cruises so be prepared to descend among throngs of tourists. Still, a very fun dive worth the effort.
★★★★☆ Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall is a beautiful, varied dive site with several entry points and routes. Enter the water from the jetty, next to the jetty, or via the beach a little further on. Dive east or westward towards Mangel Halto dive site. Dive over the beautiful to find a sloping wall with all kinds of corals and fish.
★★★★☆ Harbor Reef / Pilot Boat
The Star Gerren is a ship of German origin that was abandoned in a harbour in 1996. Because the owner was unknown and the ship deteriorated further, it was decided to sink it in 2000 and use it as an artificial reef.
Opening Hours
| Monday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Tuesday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Wednesday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Thursday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Friday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Saturday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Sunday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
office hours 12:00 - 16:00 pm
+297 739 - 1559 Visit WebsiteOpening Hours
| Monday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Tuesday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Wednesday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Thursday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Friday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Saturday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
| Sunday | 07:00 - 16:30 |
office hours 12:00 - 16:00 pm