| Dive | Where | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Antilla shipwreck | Off Malmok Beach | 400 feet long, about 60 feet deep; sponges, coral, tropical fish, shrimp and lobsters; pelicans rest on the wreck |
| Two-tank dive, south coast (Red Sail) | Palm Beach pier | $95, 3.5 hours, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, daily except Sundays |
| Mangel Halto shore dive | South coast | Walk to the reef edge; the reef drops to 110 feet |
| Certified scuba diving (GetYourGuide) | Booked through GetYourGuide | Rated 4.3 out of 5 from 13 reviews |
| SNUBA | Operators on aruba.com | No diving experience required, minimum age 8 |
The Antilla
The M.S. Antilla was built in Hamburg in 1939. In May 1940, when Germany invaded the Netherlands, Dutch marines tried to seize the ship in Aruban waters; the captain had the valves opened and the ship set on fire, and it sank. A 1940 inspection found the hull in one piece, and heavy swells later broke it up. Divers can explore the porthole, deck fittings and interior sections; the tourism board adds that the area has clear visibility and calm water. The wreck is shallow enough to snorkel: see the Antilla shipwreck and shipwreck snorkeling tours.
The Red Sail two-tank south coast dive
This is a guided dive to a maximum of 100 feet, then a shallow buddy dive to about 50 feet, from the Red Sail pier on Palm Beach between the Hyatt Regency and Barceló. The south coast has 2 to 3-foot waves and stronger currents than the west coast, with coral from 20 to 100 feet and stingrays, moray eels and barracudas. To book you must be a certified diver and show your card at check-in, and meet one of three conditions: a dive within the last 2 years, Advanced Open Water certification, or at least 30 logged dives. If your last dive was 1 to 2 years ago a refresher is recommended; 2 to 6 years requires a Red Sail refresher; over 6 years requires a PADI Scuba Tune Up. Transportation and dive equipment are extra. Ages 10 to 11 can dive to 40 feet but cannot do this two-tank dive; ages 12 to 14 can dive to 60 feet with a parent or guardian (VisitAruba, read 7 November 2026).
Learning to dive
Red Sail lists an Open Water Referral: you finish the theory and pool work at home and complete the 4 remaining open water dives with any certified dive center, including in Aruba. The tourism board names these operators under scuba diving and snorkeling: Pure Diving Aruba, JADS Dive Center, Happy Divers Aruba, Aruba Bob Snorkel & Scuba and S.E. Aruba Fly 'N Dive. The same page lists SNUBA, which needs no previous diving or snorkeling experience and has a minimum age of 8.
Not certified?
Snorkel the Antilla from a boat or take the Seaworld Explorer semi-submarine, which stays above sea level and goes about 5 feet below the surface for 1 hour 30 minutes (see Atlantis Submarine). The shore at Mangel Halto is calm and shallow near the beach, with the reef dropping to 110 feet beyond it.
The Mangel Halto reef and Hole in the Wall shore dive on GetYourGuide is for divers who are already certified.
Typical mistakes
- Arriving without your certification card: Red Sail requires it at check-in.
- Assuming the two-tank dive is the Antilla: it is a south coast dive, not a wreck trip.
- Forgetting that equipment and transport are extra on the two-tank dive.
- Booking a family dive for a child aged 10 or 11: that age group cannot do the two-tank dive.
FAQ
How deep is the Antilla wreck?
About 60 feet, and about 400 feet long.
Do I need to be certified to dive in Aruba?
For the Red Sail two-tank dive, yes. SNUBA needs no experience and has a minimum age of 8, according to the tourism board.
How much is a dive in Aruba?
$95 for the Red Sail two-tank south coast dive, with equipment and transportation extra; the GetYourGuide dive price depends on the date and group size.
Can I just snorkel the wreck?
Yes. The wreck is shallow enough to see the hull from the surface.
Aruba Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
