| Option | Depth | Length | Price | Wet? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantis Submarine | 130 feet | Not specified | See the listing | No |
| Seaworld Explorer semi-submarine | About 5 feet below the surface | 1 hour 30 minutes, 11:30 am and 1:00 pm | Price on the De Palm site | No |
| Red Sail Antilla snorkel sail | Surface; wreck at about 60 feet | 3 hours | $79 adult, $63 child (5 to 11) | Yes |
| Two-tank dive, south coast (Red Sail) | Up to 100 feet | 3.5 hours | $95, equipment extra | Yes, certified divers only |
What the submarine is
The tourism board describes a dive to 130 feet in a real submarine, with commentary from the crew, past shipwrecks, coral and an abundance of marine life, and says the operator has run dives since 1990. It leaves from L.G. Smith Boulevard 82 in Oranjestad (phone +297 522 4400) and is described as suitable for the whole family. Price, duration and age limits are not given by the tourism board, which sends visitors to the De Palm site for rates. See Atlantis Submarine.
A shallower way to stay dry: Seaworld Explorer
The semi-submarine does not submerge: it stays above sea level and goes about 5 feet below the water's surface, for 1 hour 30 minutes, at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm from De Palm Pier in Palm Beach, between the RIU Palace and the Hilton. It sees the Arashi reef and has views of the Antilla wreck, the freighter that VisitAruba calls the largest shipwreck dive in the Caribbean.
When the submarine is worth it
- You do not swim or snorkel. The submarine and the semi-submarine are the two ways to see the reef without getting in the water.
- You want depth. At 130 feet the submarine goes deeper than the Antilla, which lies about 60 feet down, and deeper than the 100-foot maximum of the Red Sail two-tank dive. See the Antilla shipwreck.
- A group with different abilities. The tourism board calls the submarine suitable for the whole family; the snorkel sails charge a lower child price from age 5.
When something else is better
- You can snorkel. The Red Sail sail is $79 for 3 hours with an open bar, snacks and gear; see shipwreck snorkeling tours and snorkeling tours in Aruba.
- You are certified. The two-tank south coast dive is $95 (equipment extra); see scuba diving in Aruba.
- You want to be on the water at sunset. See the Aruba sunset cruise.
Typical mistakes
- Confusing the two boats: the Atlantis Submarine leaves from Oranjestad (L.G. Smith Boulevard 82), the Seaworld Explorer from De Palm Pier in Palm Beach.
- Expecting the semi-submarine to dive: it stays at the surface and goes about 5 feet below it.
- Comparing the Viator listing with a dollar price on the beach without checking what each includes.
FAQ
How deep does the Atlantis Submarine go in Aruba?
130 feet, according to the tourism board.
How long is the semi-submarine tour?
1 hour 30 minutes, at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm.
Do I get wet?
No, on the submarine or the semi-submarine.
Is it good for kids?
The tourism board describes the submarine as suitable for the whole family; it lists no minimum age or height.
Aruba Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
