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Monday 20 March 2023 locAl
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            Aruba’s underwater wonderland




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