Diving in Aruba

However, some wrecks were virtually untouched by the hurricane. One is the "Jane Sea", a 250-foot freighter. The wreck stands intact and upright on the seabed towering up to 50 feet. Considering its demise just a decade ago, the shipwreck already hosts orange cup corals, encrusting sponges and small gorgonians. (a small gorgonian is NOT a grandchild!) Looking from the mast down to the gigantic six-foot propeller, the shipwreck busts into colors of red, yellow, orange and pink. The wheel house and the forward deck crane hosts cigar-size bogas, brown chromis and Creole wrasse and the current means it's easy to hang around without a personal fight.

Another alluring dive site of the Arubas is the shipwreck of "Antilla", another massive freighter. The Antilla is the largest shipwreck in Aruba with its length of 400 feet. Looking from the surface, the wreck resembles a beast rather than a shipwreck. The ship's port side lies in 60 feet of water, while several fingers of the metal hull jut through the sea surface resembling claws and teeth. Ships look large when running on the surface but when you can scuba around them, their real size seems overwhelming.

This wreck's story has created a buzz among locals and divers alike and is highly intriguing. It is sometimes called the "Ghost Ship Wreck". The Antilla was used in World War II by the Germans as a supply vessel for its submarine fleet. When Germany invaded Holland, the ship was still anchored in the harbor of Aruba. During the invasion, the Aruba was still part of the Dutch territory. As a result, the local law enforcers demanded the surrender of the ship. However, the captain didn't surrender and ordered the deliberate heating of its boilers and had its engineering compartment flooded. This resulting huge explosion doomed the ship.

A dive on the wreck is relatively easy, but on this, the western coast, visibility fluctuates between 20 and 80 feet so on occasion it can be a tad murky. Its large hull is virtually covered with corals, hydroids and sponges as well as group of tunicates that surround the hull. Silversides can be spotted on the area usually during late spring, which gives extra attraction to the shipwreck. With its number reaching millions, they appear like huge billowing and massive clouds sparkling in the sun against a backdrop of overgrown booms and cables. Hey, if these names are a mystery to you, get a book so you can identify and record what you see. It really makes the dive fantastic and you a bit of an explorer.

When in Aruba, accommodation is not a problem. What with its numerous hotels, resorts and tour operators all ready to do the service for you. The ease of all these brings flocks of tourists.

One of the largest operators of water sports in Aruba is Red Sail Sports. It works with several resorts making it convenient to tourists. Their main facility is located on the beach in between Hyatt Regency and Allegro Hotel. It also has several branches in different hotels such as Marriott and Sonesta Beach Hotel. They have a custom 42-foot deck boat, the Rob Shirley Pro-48 with split itineraries; the two-tank morning and a single-tank afternoon. These tours focus on the wrecks found along the southern and western boundaries of the island. But you can poke about when you get there and find other dive shops, too.

So, pack your gear. It's time to go diving. Better to dive a wreck than become one!