Beginner Aruba
Aruba
A hundred-and-twenty-meter freighter sunk in 1940, at eighteen meters with part of its structure almost reaching the surface
A hundred-and-twenty-meter German freighter sank here in 1940 and settled in eighteen meters of water, so shallow that part of the structure almost breaks the surface. It's one of the most accessible large wrecks that exist.
In this profile you'll find what that wreck and the island's other wrecks offer, how the constant wind shapes diving here, what reefs there are on the protected coast, when to go, and what level you need.
It's the Caribbean's clearest example of a large wreck in shallow water: the scale of a major shipwreck, but with natural light, no decompression, and within reach of an entry-level diver.
Geography and access
Aruba is the westernmost of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao), off the coast of Venezuela and outside the main hurricane belt.
It's an arid, flat island with very little runoff: the absence of continental sediment consistently favors clear water.
The trade wind blows here almost constantly and with notable strength, shaping both the island's life and its diving.
The west and southwest coast, protected from that wind, holds all the diving: reefs, sandy bottoms, and the wrecks.
The north and east coast is constantly exposed to Atlantic swell and isn't recreational diving territory.
Access is by direct international flight from North America and with a connection from Europe, with short transfers.
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