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local Tuesday 11 November 2025
Up for a snorkeling adventure in Aruba?

Top 3 shipwrecks to explore

(ORANJESTAD) – Aruba is not crew had other plans. Tak-
only the perfect vacation ing advantage of a delay Under operation Neuland
destination to sit back and caused by an anticipated (disruption of British and
relax on the sandy beaches armed resistance, the Ger- American oil sources), Ger-
but also has great snorkel- mans started scuttling the many fleets bombed Ped-
ing spots for passionate ship, opening her seacock ernales. The ship was later
adventurers to explore. On and setting her ablaze. cut into three sections, two
the coast of the island, there Eventually, the crew was ar- of which were taken to the
are various shipwrecks that rested, but SS Antilla could US for reconstruction. The re-
have become fan-favorites not be saved by the Dutch maining part stayed in Aruba
over the years. Here are the forces. The Dutch fired two and was used as target prac- S&D Shipping Ltd. named grown with coral and is home
top 3 shipwrecks you should rounds of their 35mm gun tice. Eventually, the ship be- her Jane Sea. Jane was a to a diverse set of marine life,
explore. aboard the ‘Aruba’ at SS came a snorkeling site that cement freighter between like turtles, octopus, crabs
Antilla and left her to sink. has attracted many visitors Venezuela and Aruba. and sometimes even nurse
SS Antilla The shipwreck can only be throughout the years. The story goes that the Jane sharks.
Dubbed “The Ghost Ship”, reached by boat. The ship Sea arrived one day at the
SS Antilla is the biggest and is visible from the surface Pedernales lies on the north- Barcadera Harbor, where The stories behind these ship-
most visited shipwreck site and during your snorkeling west coast of Aruba, and is Aruban customs discovered wrecks enriches their explo-
off the coast of the island. trip you’ll be surrounded by no more than 10 feet under several tons of cocaine. The ration and offers snorkelers
Located in Malmok, this hundreds of tropical fishes, water, making it an ideal site ship was confiscated and and divers a glance into the
400-foot ship’s story is one but the shipwreck alone is for snorkelers and divers of petitioned went out for her past, as well as the beautiful
of capture and sabotage already impressive enough. all levels. owner to claim her. However, marine life that have molded
during WWII. several years went by and no these wrecks into their home.
SS Pedernales Jane Sea Wreck one came forward to claim So, grab your equipment
After Germany invaded The Like the Antilla, the story of The Jane Sea Wreck lies the ship, so dive operators and discover another side
Netherlands, Dutch authori- SS Pedernales dates to WWII. near Palm Island at 100 feet decided to sink her as an ar- of what Aruba has to offer!
ties ordered the confinement Pedernales was used as a underwater. Jane’s story is tificial reef. This happened in
of the ship’s German crew, lake tanker between Vene- heavily speculated, making 1988. Jane Sea earned the We highly recommend you
who were ported in Aruba zuela and Aruba, and sailed her origin a tale of legends. nickname Jane C, because embark on your adventure
because it needed to find under British Flag. At this time, of the illicit white powder dis- with the guide of a profes-
a neutral port. The Dutch The US and Britain were using Launched in 1959, the 190- covered on board. sional and be sure to take
ordered the ship to be con- Aruba and Curacao as fuel feet ship was initially called of yourself and Aruba’s pre-
fiscated, but the German stations for the war ships. “Blackthorn”. Her last owner, Jane is now beautifully over- cious nature.q

Create museum memories with the entire family!

Museums are an integral Oranjestad. The renovated 1,700 m2.
part of conserving and hon- historic Ecury complex in
oring cultures, and Aruba is downtown Oranjestad has In 1997 the Aruban Govern-
no exception. Our Island has been transformed from a ment bought the complex
a wide selection of various family home to a modern for the National Archaeo-
museums for our locals and museum that preserves logical Museum project. In
visitors to see. Take this op- Aruba’s Amerindian cul- 2004 a financial agreement
portunity to learn about our tural heritage. This 21st cen- was signed with the Euro-
island and experience a tury museum is especially pean Development Fund
different day beyond the designed to preserve valu- and in 2006 restoration and ern exhibition techniques in-
beach. Let us introduce to able artifacts dating back construction work began on formation on the origin and
you to these locations. to the Pre-Ceramic period the monumental buildings culture of the first inhabitants
so it could be restored and of 2500 BC. and the new to build exhi- of the island. The new per-
Museum of Industry Aruba preserved as one of Aruba’s bition space. In December manent exhibit gives the visi-
The Museum of Industry in monuments. The Museum In the late 1980’s AMA iden- 2007 the key to the complex tor an insight into the cultures
located in San Nicolas. This of Industry is part of Aruban tified its need for an ad- was delivered and the mu- that inhabited the island in
museum presents the history Museum Foundation (FMA), equate housing for its col- seum’s employees moved to Pre-Historical and Early His-
of gold, aloe, phosphate, oil which is a foundation that lection and activities. After the new location. The final torical times. The museum
and tourism through elabo- maintains, preserves, and studying various options, a design for the exhibit was regularly hosts public semi-
rated displays and multime- protects the Aruban cultural project proposal was drawn completed in November nars, special exhibitions and
dia installations. sector, history, and nature. up, including the acquisition 2007 and the permanent workshop for visitors to enjoy.
The museum of Industry is and restoration of historical exhibit, financed by the
The Museum of Industry is open daily from 9 am till 6 buildings in downtown Oran- Aruban Government and The museum is open daily
situated in the Water Tower pm. jestad. the Union of Cultural Orga- from 9 am till 5 pm.
and narrates Aruba’s indus- nizations (UNOCA), opened
trial history which began in For more information check These historical buildings in July 2009. For more information check
the 19th century. The Water out their Facebook page: were formerly the property of out the Facebook page Na-
Tower was built in 1939 and Museum of Industry Aruba. the Ecury family. The “Ecury At the new location the tional Archaeological Muse-
consists of three sections: Complex”, is a cluster of National Archaeological um Aruba or website: www.
the substructure, the high- Archaeological Museum of single and two-story historic Museum Aruba uses approxi- manaruba.org
rising vertical shaft, and the Aruba buildings, mainly Dutch co- mately 500 m2 for its per-
tank at the top. The Water The Archaeological Muse- lonial architecture from the manent exhibit. This exhibit Editor’s note: Pictures are
Tower was purchased by um of Aruba is located at late 19th and 20th century showcases archaeological property of the respective
the Monuments fund in 2003 Schelpstraat 42 in downtown on a plot of approximately objects and conveys mod- museums.