Page 15 - AHATA

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local Monday 11 SepteMber 2023

Aruba’s underwater wonderland

ORANJESTAD - Exploring steps you can easily walk ship is now one of Aruba’s
the underwater wonders is over the beach into the most popular snorkeling
something you should defi- clear and turquoise blue and dive spots. However,
nitely do during your stay ocean. While snorkeling the ship wreck can only be
in Aruba. The underwater you will encounter all kind reached by boat. The ship
world has everything to of- of tropical fishes and sea is visible from the surface
fer that makes a snorkel trip stars. The kind of starfish and during your snorkeling
so exceptional; an impres- you will find in the Aruban trip you be surrounded by
sive, colorful sea life with waters is the red cushion hundreds of tropical fishes,
exotic fishes, turtles and sea star. This is a starfish that but the ship wreck alone is
beautiful coral reef. The his- is commonly found in the already impressive enough.
toric shipwrecks, located shallow waters of the Ca-
on the Aruban seabed are ribbean sea and if you are Baby Beach
also worth a visit. Aruba is lucky during your snorkeling Baby beach; a white
known for its white beach- visit to Tres Trapi, you may beach, with a crystal blue
es and blue oceans, which come across one of the ocean. The beach is lo-
means there are many fas- green sea turtles. Respect cated on the southern part
cinating under water spots, the animal, keep your dis- of the island. On the way
where you can take your tance and enjoy the view. to the famous beach, you
snorkeling gear and we se- Also remember; it is a once will drive through the old
lected the top spots for you. in a life time experience. capital of Aruba, San Nico-
las. The old Aruban culture
Tres Trapi Antilla shipwreck can be still felt and expe-
Tres Trapi means tree steps Antilla is a 400-foot-long rienced here, so do not
in Papiamento, Papiamen- long ship, built in 1939 in hesitate to get out of your
to is together with Dutch Hamburg, Germany. Antilla car and walk around for
the official language spo- came to Aruba, because it a while. Baby beach is a
ken on Aruba. The beach had to find a neutral port. child friendly beach, since
is called Tres Trapi because When Germany invaded it is shallow and the water
it is accessible by the tree the Netherlands on May has a pleasant tempera-
steps carved into the rocks. 10, 1940, the crew decided ture. The name therefore
Tres Trapi is a small rocky to let their own ship sink, to fits well with the beach.
beach, located on the prevent it from falling into Baby beach is an excellent
north-western side of the the hands of the Dutch beach for snorkeling, espe-
island, approximately 5 to Navy. Antilla lies on its port- cially if you want to go with
10 minute drive from Palm side in Malmok bay, and small children, because the
Beach. From the unique the sunken word war two water remains shallow and
there are still many under-
water wonders to see. In
the ocean there is an area
marked until where it is rec-
ommended to snorkel and
on the beach you will find
different facilities. It is a per- in Aruba; it is beach full of enjoy the view. Mangel
fect beach to spend your mangroves. You reach the Halto is also worth a visit for
day snorkeling and relax- beach by a bridge through the snorkeling experience.
ing. the mangroves and then Inside the bay, the water
you will have several en- is clear and you find many
Mangel Halto trances to the sea. There colorful fish. Outside the
Mangel Halto beach is lo- are diverse spots where bay is a bit more challeng-
cated in Savaneta, on the you can enjoy a perfect ing for beginners because
southern-west part of the beach day, wooden stairs of the wind and the waves,
island. The beach is differ- made to enter the water but the coral is alive and it
ent from the other beaches and a dock to sit on and is just like snorkel heaven.q