Explore Aruba
Aruba offers an exceptional diving experience in the heart of the Caribbean, where crystal-clear waters meet vibrant marine life. Known for its fringing reefs and dramatic underwater walls, the island is a diver's paradise. These natural formations, combined with the numerous shipwrecks scattered around the island, create a unique underwater landscape that is both intriguing and accessible. From accidental wrecks to carefully positioned artificial reefs, the dive sites in Aruba are teeming with life, offering divers the chance to explore bustling coral gardens and encounter a variety of marine species.
Diving in Aruba caters to all levels, with gentle currents and calm waters in the south making it ideal for beginners. Meanwhile, the more adventurous can head north, where stronger currents unveil a treasure trove of dive sites filled with hidden wonders. The island's favorable weather conditions ensure that diving is a year-round activity, with the reefs remaining largely untouched by severe storms. This stability not only protects the marine environment but also guarantees divers a consistently amazing experience.
Beyond the typical dive trip, Aruba's diving scene includes options for shore dives, boat dives, and even liveaboards. This flexibility allows divers to immerse themselves in the island's underwater world at their own pace. Whether you're navigating through the shadows of a shipwreck or swimming alongside schools of colorful fish, diving in Aruba promises a memorable adventure filled with natural beauty and delightful surprises, making it a top choice for divers seeking something extraordinary.
Dive Activity
Diving in Aruba
Aruba offers an exhilarating diving experience with its diverse underwater landscapes. The island is renowned for its spectacular wreck dives; the Antilla wreck is a must-see, offering a glimpse into history with its coral-encrusted structure teeming with marine life. For those who prefer shore dives, sites like Mangel Halto provide accessible coral gardens vibrant with colorful fish and macro life.
Night dives in Aruba present a unique spectacle, revealing nocturnal marine behaviors and bioluminescent organisms. While liveaboard diving isn't available due to the proximity of dive sites to the coast, small day boats offer convenient access to expansive reefs and thrilling drift dives, catering to both beginner and experienced divers.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Aruba
Diving in Aruba is best known for its shipwrecks and coral reefs, where divers can see a huge number of different fish, crustaceans and even turtles whiling away their days amongst the corals. The macro life is beautiful all over the wrecks and reefs as well as huge groupers which can be found skulking in the overhangs and inside the wrecks.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
775 Sightings
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62
F
58
M
59
A
62
M
64
J
74
J
72
A
62
S
80
O
39
N
65
D
78
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
651 Sightings
J
68
F
39
M
79
A
42
M
36
J
66
J
59
A
44
S
46
O
29
N
64
D
79
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
212 Sightings
J
37
F
13
M
17
A
15
M
19
J
27
J
8
A
14
S
13
O
4
N
16
D
29
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
207 Sightings
J
15
F
18
M
22
A
6
M
8
J
21
J
11
A
17
S
25
O
18
N
23
D
23
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
137 Sightings
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16
F
5
M
4
A
5
M
4
J
25
J
3
A
6
S
16
O
11
N
9
D
33
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
97 Sightings
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3
F
6
M
16
A
4
M
4
J
11
J
12
A
5
S
4
O
4
N
8
D
20
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
45 Sightings
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10
F
1
M
2
A
3
M
4
J
2
J
1
A
3
S
8
O
1
N
5
D
5
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
45 Sightings
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4
F
1
M
3
A
5
M
2
J
3
J
7
A
6
S
4
O
1
N
2
D
7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
614 Sightings
J
52
F
28
M
63
A
36
M
44
J
65
J
57
A
61
S
43
O
36
N
60
D
69
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
559 Sightings
J
45
F
33
M
61
A
25
M
40
J
65
J
44
A
48
S
45
O
42
N
47
D
64
The best Months to dive in Aruba
Unlike some Carribean islands Aruba has only a slight wet season and no serious monsoon period. The dry season between April and November is the peak time for visitors on the island. The weather is fine and dry, the perfect time to spend the day on the beach or out on a dive boat. Unsurprisingly, this time is quite busy and it is a good idea to book both diving and a place to stay well in advance of visiting. There are a number of dive centers in Aruba but boats are busy as diving is very popular. Diving in Aruba in the wet season from December to March will mean more rain but only a few degrees cooler in-water temperatures. The marine life does not vary with the season due to being made up of mostly local reef residents. The cooler season gives you the best chance of a good deal on dive packages in Aruba and it is easier and less expensive to find somewhere to stay.
