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DESTINATIONS » Caribbean » Aruba | Bahamas | Bay Islands (Honduras) | Belize | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Caymans | Costa Rica | | Curaçao | Dominican Republic | Saba | St. Vincent | Turks & Caicos | US Virgin Islands
Situated 50 miles (80km) north of Venezuela in the Southern Caribbean, are Aruba, Curaçao
and Bonaire,
three Dutch islands and also called the ABC's. They are part of the Dutch Antilles.
Aruba is not a prime scuba diving destination, but do bring your dive gear, especially if you are also going to Bonaire and Curaçao.
Many of Aruba's dive sites are located in shallow waters which range in depths of 30-60ft (10-20m).
For wreck divers, Aruba is home to the largest wreck in the Caribbean, the Antilla, German freighter that offers divers many pockets to explore along the length of this ship. In addition, advanced wreck divers can explore the 111 year-old historic ship, California. California is the name of a steamship shipwrecked off the wild northern coast of Aruba in the middle of the night- September 23rd, 1891. The accident resulted in the death of one crew member- the ship's engineer. Onboard there was a great deal of merchandise such as clothing, provisions and even furniture. All of these items were thrown overboard in an attempt to keep the ship afloat. As goods floated up to the shore it was picked up by locals and to be sold in the markets. Two police officers from Curacao were called to Aruba to help stop the locals from stealing the goods as they floated ashore. Traveling to the northern edge of the island, they stopped and asked for directions. They were not aware that California was a ship as their orders were simply to help local police. The locals thought it amusing that the cops were looking for a "place" that no one had ever heard of. Thus the nickname and reason why this area has became known as California.
Dive or snorkel Aruba's tranquil waters of its leeward side and discover a whole different world, one in which colorful angelfish, parrotfish
and snapper abound against the background of varying textures and shapes of the coral reef. Aruba's undersea world is not limited to divers.
Snorkelers can also appreciate its beauty on the southwest coast where the white sandy beach slopes gently toward the sea.
Expect water temperatures in the low 80°F (26°C)
most of the time.
Dive Sites
Aruba is situated 12° 30' north of the equator. The climate is tropical but not extreme, with a median and practically constant temperature of 82°F (28°C). Rainfall averages about eighteen inches a year, with October, November,
December and January accounting for most of it. Even then rains tend to be erratic and in short bursts, and it is rare for the sun not to
be shining most of the day. It is important to mention that Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt and usually only experiences fringe effects
of nearby heavy tropical storms, if at all.
Dive Sites of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao: Comprehensive Coverage of Diving and Snorkeling (Dive Sites of ... Series!), Jack Jackson
Lonely Planet Aruba :: Online
Visit Aruba
DESTINATIONS » Caribbean » Aruba | Bahamas | Bay Islands (Honduras) | Belize | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Caymans | Costa Rica | | Curaçao | Dominican Republic | Saba | St. Vincent | Turks & Caicos | US Virgin Islands
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