Shipwrecks and sunken planes
Aruba Wreck Diving
Aruba wreck diving is the main reason many divers choose the island: a 1940s German freighter, a tanker torn apart in a U-boat attack, and aircraft and ships sunk on purpose as artificial reefs, all off the calm west coast.
Why Aruba is a wreck diver's island
Most Caribbean islands have one or two good wrecks. Aruba has a whole line of them along its leeward coast, from Malmok in the north-west down past Oranjestad to Barcadera. Some are wartime casualties with real history behind them. Others were sunk deliberately to give fish and coral somewhere new to settle and to give divers something to explore. Together they make Aruba wreck diving a reason to visit on their own.
Because the west coast is sheltered from the trade winds, conditions on the wrecks are usually calm, and several of them are shallow enough for newly certified divers. The deeper ones are best done with a guide from a dive boat. If you would rather stay shallow and dive from the beach, see our Aruba shore diving guide for wrecks and reefs you can walk to.
The wrecks below are listed roughly from north to south. Depths and conditions change with weather and swell, so always get a site briefing from a local dive centre before you go.
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The Antilla
The Antilla is the wreck most people picture when they think of Aruba. She was a German cargo ship, built in the late 1930s, that was anchored off Aruba when Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. Rather than let the ship be taken, her crew scuttled her off Malmok. At roughly 120 metres (about 400 feet) long, she is one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean.
The hull lies on its side and is heavily covered in tube sponges, coral and encrusting life. Parts of the wreck come close enough to the surface that snorkellers can see her from above, which is why locals sometimes call her the ghost ship. Divers can explore the length of the hull, the holds and the large open spaces inside, where schools of small fish gather. Penetration should only be done by trained wreck divers with a guide.
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The Pedernales
The Pedernales was an oil tanker that was hit in the German U-boat attack on Aruba's refineries in February 1942. The ship was badly damaged. Her bow and stern were later joined back together and sailed again, and the damaged middle section was left behind off the west coast.
What remains is a shallow, broken wreck spread across the sand, with pipes, cabins and sections of hull to swim through and around. Because it is shallow, the Pedernales is one of the best wrecks in Aruba for newer divers and for anyone who wants a long, relaxed dive with plenty of light for photos.
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The Jane Sea
The Jane Sea is a large cargo ship that was sunk as an artificial reef near Barcadera, on the south-west coast. She sits upright next to a reef, so a dive here usually combines the wreck with the coral beside it. The hull is covered in orange cup coral and sponges, and the deck and superstructure attract groupers, snappers and schooling fish.
The Jane Sea is deeper than the Pedernales, so it suits divers with some experience and good air consumption. Ask your dive centre about the current on the day.
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The airplane wrecks
Aruba has several aircraft sunk as artificial reefs. A small twin-engine plane sits on the sand near Arashi in the north-west, and more planes rest off Renaissance Island, the small private island off Oranjestad. Swimming over a sunken airplane is a strange and memorable sight, and the wings and fuselage have become home to coral, sponges and reef fish.
Most of the airplane wrecks are at moderate depths, and the Arashi plane can be part of a dive on Arashi reef. Visibility around the planes is usually good, which makes them a favourite with underwater photographers.
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Other wrecks and artificial reefs
Along the same coast are smaller wrecks, including a former fuel barge, the Debbie II, near Malmok, and a sunken tugboat beside Harbour Reef. These are often dived as a second tank after one of the bigger wrecks. Local dive centres know which ones are in the best condition and when the current is right for each.
Wreck diving safety in Aruba
Wrecks are easy to enjoy from the outside, but going inside is a different kind of diving. Inside a wreck there is no direct way up, silt can wipe out visibility in seconds, and sharp metal and cables can snag gear. Stay outside unless you have wreck diving training and a guide who knows the site.
- Get a site briefing before every wreck dive
- Stay outside unless you are wreck trained
- Watch your depth and no-stop time
- Keep fins high to avoid stirring up silt
- Carry a dive light for shaded areas
- Never take anything from a wreck
New to wrecks? Many dive centres teach a wreck diving specialty, and Aruba's shallow wrecks are a good place to take it. If you aren't certified yet, start with our guide to learning to dive in Aruba.
A few of the bigger wrecks are near busy boat channels, so dive them from a boat with a dive flag up, not from the shore. Pack a surface marker buoy and a dive light. Our Aruba dive gear list covers what else to bring.
Aruba wreck diving FAQ
What is the most famous wreck in Aruba?
The Antilla, a German freighter scuttled off Malmok in May 1940. She is one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean and can be seen by divers and snorkellers.
Which Aruba wreck is best for beginners?
The Pedernales. It is shallow, spread out across the sand and usually calm, so newly certified divers can explore it comfortably.
Can you snorkel the Antilla?
Yes. Parts of the wreck come close to the surface, and snorkel trips stop above it on calm days. Divers get the full view of the hull and holds.
Planning a wreck diving trip?
When to go, getting to Aruba and flying safely after your last dive.