| While Arbua may be better known for its beaches | | | | island. When you see its beautiful powdery white sand, |
| and casinos, it is also a good destination for the scuba | | | | you'll know why. It's also where you'll leave from for |
| diver. In fact, Aruba was voted the second best wreck | | | | most of your Aruba diving. |
| diving in the Caribbean by Rodale's Scuba Diving | | | | Reefs and Rides |
| Magazine in 2006. So if you like wrecks, you may | | | | Most of the dive sites in Aruba are best accessed by |
| want to consider a trip to Aruba. Plus, you can always | | | | boat. The vast majority of Aruba scuba diving sites |
| check out those casinos and beaches in-between | | | | are along the southwest coast of the island. The reef |
| dives! | | | | is located on the south end with many of the wrecks |
| Location | | | | on the north end. Boat rides from shore to the sites |
| Aruba is situated 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela | | | | are normally less than 15 minutes. |
| and is about a 2 1/2 hour flight from Miami. Given its | | | | If you are staying toward the middle of the island and |
| popularity with tourists, this is an easy island to get to | | | | want to dive the north end, you may want to (have to) |
| with many direct flights from the US. | | | | take a short van ride to the boat. This is what we did |
| Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, all located off the coast | | | | when we were staying at the Tarmarijn and dove the |
| of Venezuela, form the ABC islands. Aruba seceded | | | | Antilla and Pedernales. |
| from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and is now a | | | | Diving |
| separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the | | | | The best Aruba diving is wreck diving. While there are |
| Netherlands. | | | | walls and reefs, they are generally not as good as |
| Geography | | | | those on its sister islands. On many of the dives you |
| Aruba is easy to explore at just 20 miles long and 6 | | | | can check out both a wreck and a reef for the best |
| miles wide. Like it's sister island, Curacao, its landscape | | | | of both worlds. |
| is dotted with divi divi trees and cacti. | | | | Aruba is currently working to preserve its reefs and to |
| The highest elevation on the island is Yamanota Hill at | | | | maintain the quality of Aruba diving. Preservation and |
| just 617 feet. It's located near the center of the island | | | | educational programs have been started, including a |
| and you can visit it by car. The northeast coast is | | | | reef clean-up program. Dozens of mooring buoys |
| rugged with cliffs and pounding surf. | | | | have been installed to protect the reefs and a marine |
| The real draw here is the southwest coast and its | | | | park has also been established. |
| beautiful beaches. Of the 3 ABC islands, Aruba has | | | | So go and have some fun exploring the wrecks |
| the best beaches. The most famous is arguably Palm | | | | galore. Depending on what you look for on an island, |
| Beach and Eagle Beach, which together stretch for | | | | you may fall in love with Aruba. I know many people |
| seven miles. It's home to the majority of hotels on the | | | | that have and you may be the next. |