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Aruba Shipwrecks: Antilla, Pedernales and More (2026)
Aruba shipwrecks are one of the best reasons to get in the water here. The island has a real Second World War wreck you can see from the surface, a torpedoed tanker in shallow water, a 19th-century steamship that gave the lighthouse its name, and a set of ships and planes sunk on purpose to grow new reef. Some are snorkel-friendly. Most are for divers.
Aruba shipwrecks at a glance
Depths vary by source and by where you measure, so treat these as rough guides.
| Wreck | Sunk | Rough depth | Snorkel? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antilla | 1940, scuttled | Up to about 18 m | Yes, by boat |
| Pedernales | 1942, torpedoed | Roughly 4 to 10 m | Often, on calm days |
| SS California site | 1891 | Up to about 14 m | No, rough north coast |
| Jane Sea | 1988, purpose-sunk | About 10 to 30 m | No |
| Debbie II | 1992, purpose-sunk | About 17 to 21 m | No |
| Sonesta/Renaissance planes | Purpose-sunk | About 14 to 24 m | No |
The Antilla
The big one. The Antilla was a German cargo ship, launched in Hamburg in 1939 and about 121 metres long. When Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, Dutch authorities moved to seize German ships in the colonies. The Antilla’s crew opened the seacocks and set fires before Dutch marines could board, and she sank in Malmok Bay.
She lies on her port side, broken in two by storms, in up to about 18 metres of water. Parts of the hull come much closer to the surface, which is why snorkelers can see her clearly from above on a calm day. Corals and sponges cover the steel. You can only reach the Antilla by boat. Our clear boat tour stops over it, and many west coast catamarans do too.
The Pedernales
An oil tanker hit by a U-boat torpedo in February 1942. The damaged middle section was cut away and left behind, while the bow and stern were joined up and the ship sailed on. What is left lies in pieces on a shallow seabed and now works as a small reef.
Because it is shallow with little current, dive guides call it a beginner wreck, and it can work for strong snorkelers on a calm day with a boat. Ask your operator before you book.
The SS California wreck site
The British steamship California went down off Aruba’s north coast on 23 September 1891. The lighthouse built on the hill above it a couple of decades later was named after her. What remains is broken up and scattered, and it lies off the north coast where currents are strong. This is one for experienced divers with a local operator, on a good day only. For most visitors, the best way to “see” the California is to stand by the lighthouse and look out at the water.
Artificial reef wrecks
Jane Sea
A cement freighter about 75 metres long, sunk in 1988. She sits upright on a slope, bow shallower, stern deeper, and is one of the more colourful wrecks thanks to hard corals and sponges. Dive sources mention strong currents at times, so listen to the briefing.
Debbie II
A fuel barge of roughly 37 metres, sunk as an artificial reef in 1992. Dive guides rate it suitable for most certified divers.
The sunken planes
Two aircraft lie near Renaissance Island: a Convair 240 that was confiscated from drug smugglers and an ex-Air Aruba YS-11 sunk in 2004. Hurricane activity broke and moved the older plane. The YS-11 is largely intact and you can swim past the fuselage.
More wrecks worth knowing
Star Gerren
A ship sunk in 2000 that has since rolled further over. Dive guides put it at around 18 to 20 metres.
Kappel
A small steel boat sunk in 2009 in a sandy bowl behind the reef at Mangel Halto. It is an easy dive often used for training.
Harbor tugboat
A tug near the cruise port in about 24 metres of water, suitable for most certified divers.
Baboo wreck at Malmok
A small wreck just off the rocks at Malmok that snorkelers can swim to from shore. Its top can break the surface at low tide. It draws sergeant majors and other reef fish, and makes a nice warm-up before you see the Antilla.
Snorkel or dive?
If you do not dive, you still have good options: the Antilla from a boat, the Baboo from shore, and the shallow Pedernales on a calm day with a guide. Everything else on this list is properly a dive. Aruba’s south-side sites tend to have calmer water, while the north has more current, so if you are newly certified, start on the sheltered west and south wrecks.
Tips for wreck trips
- Go in the morning. The west coast is usually calmer and the light is better.
- Do not touch. Wrecks are sharp and coral grows slowly.
- Snorkelers: wear a vest over the Antilla. It is in open water and the boat traffic is real.
- Divers: penetration of any wreck needs proper training and a guide. Wrecks break down over time, as the Antilla did.
- Bring proof of certification and your logbook if you plan to dive.