Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 91

Jane Sea wreck is considered one of the best dives because the freighter
rests in an upright sloped position in a thicket of colorful corals and
sponges. The 250-foot hull is totally encrusted with fire coral, orange cup
coral, black coral, and red sponges. Sunk intentionally after it was caught
hauling cocaine, the Venezuelan ship's anchor lies at the bottom of an
AWA-placed mooring rope. Divers swim with schools of fish along the
anchor's rigid chain to a reef that leads to the bow of the ship in 50 feet of
water. Watch for lobsters, barracuda, green moray eels, and colorful tropi-
cal fish. It's possible to enter the ship's compartments and the propellers
provide great photo ops.
De Palm Island is considered the best snorkeling site off Aruba.
Parrotfish are accustomed to being fed, and they come in mobs begging for
handouts from anyone who gets into the water. Divers enjoy the drift dive
and can go out from De Palm Island's shore or by boat from the main
island. The coral reef starts 30 feet from De Palm in shallow water and
quickly slopes to 120 feet. Moderately strong currents in clear water carry
divers past magnificent coral formations and vast numbers of fish, includ-
ing surgeons, grunts, blue tangs, and the occasional barracuda or nurse
shark.
Mike's Reef is perhaps the best reef dive off Aruba. It's a rocky garden of
gorgonians, purple and orange sponges, and various corals. Divers can
photograph the outstanding formations then drift along to another nearby
reef called The Fingers , so named because the coral seems to “point”
downward to deeper water. Schools of colorful fish swim along and a lone
barracuda often follows at a distance.
Mangel Halto Reef is excellent for snorkelers and divers. Located off a
beach with the same name, between Pos Chiquito and Savaneta on the
southwest shore, the beautiful corals are visible in 15 feet of water about
300 yards from shore. From there, the reef slopes steeply to 110 feet, where
the coral, sponge, and fan formations grow dense and draw huge numbers
of fish, lobsters, and rays. Octopi and seahorses are frequently seen
around the reef. Conditions are normally calm, so divers may enter from
the shore and swim out along the slope. This is considered one of the best
deep-water dives on the island.
Pos (Porto) Chiquito is a terrific night dive, especially during coral-
spawning season in September and October. Special dive trips are sched-
uled to coincide with the annual renewal of the reef, but conditions are
excellent for shore excursions year-round. Sea turtles and manta rays live
in the area, and the sloping reef supports an abundance of fish. Locals call
the spot Snapper City because of the nocturnal snappers that are spotted
in large numbers during night dives.
Isla di Oro Reef begins in 20 feet of water around the mangrove-lined
shore near Savaneta. When the current is weak, it is an excellent snorkel-
ing spot featuring brain, staghorn, star, and plate coral. Schools of
parrotfish feed in the area. At greater depths (up to 120 feet), moray eels