Snorkelling
Shore snorkelling on Aruba's calm west and south coasts, from Boca Catalina and Malmok to Mangel Halto and Baby Beach, plus boat trips to the Antilla wreck.
Aruba is one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to snorkel without a boat: the leeward west and south coasts are sheltered from the easterly trade winds, and the Aruba Tourism Authority lists Malmok, Boca Catalina, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach as spots you can enter straight from the sand. Boat trips add the SS Antilla, a 121 m German freighter scuttled off Malmok in 1940.
Where can you snorkel from the beach?
- Boca Catalina – a small bay on the road to the California Lighthouse, about five minutes' drive north of the Palm Beach high-rise hotels, with steps down from a roadside car park.
- Malmok Beach and Arashi Beach – rocky shoreline and sandy patches on the same north-west stretch; Arubus line L10 from Oranjestad runs to Arashi.
- Mangel Halto – shallow water fringed by mangroves at Pos Chiquito, on the south coast near Savaneta.
- Baby Beach – a shallow, sheltered lagoon at Seroe Colorado, reached by bus line L900 from San Nicolas. The official advice is to stay inside the marked snorkel area where the lagoon opens to the sea.
When is the water calmest?
The wind on Aruba blows from the east almost all year: the Departamento Meteorologico Aruba's 1991–2020 normals give a mean direction of 80–90° in every month. Because the snorkel spots face west or south, they sit in the lee of the island. The windiest month is June (mean 8.8 m/s, about 17 knots); October to December are the calmest (5.6–6.6 m/s), which is also when most of the year's 451 mm of rain falls, usually as short showers.
What is the Antilla and can you snorkel it?
The Antilla was a Hamburg America Line cargo ship launched in 1939. On 10 May 1940, when Germany invaded the Netherlands and Dutch forces moved to seize German ships in the colonies, her crew opened the seacocks and set fires so she could not be captured. She lies on her port side in Malmok Bay in up to 18 m of water, and many snorkel cruises stop above her (see sailing and cruises). Parts of the wreck come close to the surface, but entering it is for certified divers only — see scuba diving.
What rules protect the reef?
Since July 2020 Aruba has penalised the import, sale and production of sunscreen containing oxybenzone, under a law passed by Parliament in November 2019. Four marine protected areas — Parke Marino Aruba, about 60 km² in total, including the Mangel Halto coast — are managed by the Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF); access is free, but feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited. Do not stand on coral, and keep a respectful distance from the four species of sea turtle that live around the island.
What do people commonly get wrong?
Underestimating the sun (you are face-down for an hour; wear a rash guard), swimming out of the sheltered zone, and snorkelling near boat traffic. Never snorkel alone on the rough north and east coasts, such as Boca Grandi, where currents are strong.
Where to go
Know before you go
- Go early. Shore spots such as Boca Catalina are small; weekday mornings are quieter than weekends, when local families arrive.
- Choose oxybenzone-free sunscreen. Sunscreens with oxybenzone cannot be sold in Aruba since July 2020; check the label of anything you bring and add a rash guard.
- Stay in the sheltered zone. At Baby Beach the official advice is to stay inside the marked snorkel area; beyond the openings to the sea conditions change quickly.
- Look, don't touch or feed. Feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited in Aruba's marine protected areas; standing on coral kills it.
FAQ
Do I need a boat to snorkel in Aruba?
No. Malmok, Boca Catalina, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach are entered straight from the shore. A boat is only needed for sites such as the Antilla wreck.
Is reef-safe sunscreen mandatory in Aruba?
The law, in force since July 2020, penalises the import, sale and production of sunscreens containing oxybenzone. Using an oxybenzone-free product is the simplest way to respect its purpose.
How deep is the Antilla wreck?
It lies on its side in Malmok Bay in up to about 18 m of water, with parts of the structure close enough to the surface to be seen by snorkellers.
Where is the best snorkelling for children?
Baby Beach is a shallow, sheltered lagoon; keep children inside the marked snorkel area. Mangel Halto is also shallow near the shore.
More things to do
Kayak & paddleboard
Paddling Aruba's calm south and west coasts: the mangroves and reef of Mangel Halto, the protected Spaans Lagoen wetland, and the flat water off Palm Beach and Malmok.
1–3 h
Sailing & sunset cruises
Catamaran and schooner trips from Palm Beach along Aruba's sheltered west coast: snorkel sails over the Antilla wreck and evening cruises timed for the sunset.
2–4 h
Scuba diving
Wreck and reef diving on Aruba's sheltered west and south coasts: the 1940 Antilla, the shallow Pedernales, the Jane Sea and shore dives at Mangel Halto.
2–4 h (two-tank trip)