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Snorkeling the Antilla Shipwreck in Aruba: What to Expect
The Antilla is the wreck everyone talks about in Aruba, and for good reason. It’s huge, it’s close to shore, and parts of it are shallow enough to see from the surface.
The story
The Antilla was a German cargo ship. In 1940, after Germany invaded the Netherlands, the crew scuttled the ship off Aruba’s northwest coast rather than let it be taken. It’s been sitting there ever since, and today it’s the biggest World War II shipwreck in Aruba.
What you’ll see
Over the decades the hull has been covered in coral and sponges, and it attracts a lot of fish. Divers go inside; snorkelers float above and look down. On a clear, calm day you can make out the shape of the ship and the parts that rise closest to the surface.
Is it hard to snorkel?
It’s open water, so it’s further out than a beach snorkel and there can be some current. That’s why most people visit by boat. Life jackets help a lot if you’re not a strong swimmer.
The easy way to see it
The clear boat stops right over the Antilla. You see it through the floor first, then decide whether to get in. It’s one of three stops on the 1.5-hour trip, along with Boca Catalina and the turtles at Tres Trapi.