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Monday 12 SepteMber 2022 locAl
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Aruba’s underwater wonderland
ORANJESTAD - Exploring also worth a visit. Aruba is
the underwater wonders is known for its white beach-
something you should defi- es and blue oceans, which
nitely do during your stay means there are many fas- is called Tres Trapi because
in Aruba. The underwater cinating under water spots,
world has everything to of- where you can take your
fer that makes a snorkel trip snorkeling gear and we
so exceptional; an impres- selected the top spots for
sive, colorful sea life with you.
exotic fishes, turtles and
beautiful coral reef. The his- Tres Trapi
toric shipwrecks, located Tres Trapi means tree steps
on the Aruban seabed are in Papiamento, Papiamen-
to is together with Dutch
the official language spo-
ken on Aruba. The beach
it is accessible by the tree
steps carved into the rocks.
Tres Trapi is a small rocky
beach, located on the
north-western side of the
island, approximately 5 to
10 minute drive from Palm
Beach. From the unique
steps you can easily walk
over the beach into the
clear and turquoise blue
ocean. While snorkeling
you will encounter all kind
of tropical fishes and sea
stars. The kind of starfish
you will find in the Aruban
waters is the red cushion
sea star. This is a starfish that
is commonly found in the
shallow waters of the Ca-
ribbean sea and if you are
lucky during your snorkeling
visit to Tres Trapi, you may
come across one of the
green sea turtles. Respect and during your snorkeling beach for snorkeling, espe-
the animal, keep your dis- trip you be surrounded by cially if you want to go with
tance and enjoy the view. hundreds of tropical fishes, small children, because the
Also remember; it is a once but the ship wreck alone is water remains shallow and
in a life time experience. already impressive enough. there are still many under-
water wonders to see. In
Antilla shipwreck Baby Beach the ocean there is an area
Antilla is a 400-foot-long Baby beach; a white marked until where it is rec-
long ship, built in 1939 in beach, with a crystal blue ommended to snorkel and
Hamburg, Germany. Antilla ocean. The beach is lo- on the beach you will find
came to Aruba, because it cated on the southern part different facilities. It is a per-
had to find a neutral port. of the island. On the way fect beach to spend your
When Germany invaded to the famous beach, you day snorkeling and relax-
the Netherlands on May will drive through the old ing.
10, 1940, the crew decided capital of Aruba, San Nico-
to let their own ship sink, to las. The old Aruban culture Mangel Halto
prevent it from falling into can be still felt and expe- Mangel Halto beach is lo-
the hands of the Dutch rienced here, so do not cated in Savaneta, on the
Navy. Antilla lies on its port- hesitate to get out of your southern-west part of the
side in Malmok bay, and car and walk around for island. The beach is differ-
the sunken word war two a while. Baby beach is a ent from the other beaches
ship is now one of Aruba’s child friendly beach, since in Aruba; it is beach full of
most popular snorkeling it is shallow and the water mangroves. You reach the
and dive spots. However, has a pleasant tempera- beach by a bridge through
the ship wreck can only be ture. The name therefore the mangroves and then
reached by boat. The ship fits well with the beach. you will have several en-
is visible from the surface Baby beach is an excellent trances to the sea. There
are diverse spots where
you can enjoy a perfect
beach day, wooden stairs
made to enter the water
and a dock to sit on and
enjoy the view. Mangel
Halto is also worth a visit for
the snorkeling experience.
Inside the bay, the water
is clear and you find many
colorful fish.
Outside the bay is a bit
more challenging for be-
ginners because of the
wind and the waves, but
the coral is alive and it is just
like snorkel heaven.q