Page 13 - AHATA

A8 LOCAL
Tuesday 19 March 2024

Aruba’s underwater wonderland

ORANJESTAD - Exploring the un- during your snorkeling visit to Tres
derwater wonders is something Trapi, you may come across one of
you should definitely do during the green sea turtles. Respect the
your stay in Aruba. The underwa- animal, keep your distance and
ter world has everything to offer enjoy the view. Also remember; it
that makes a snorkel trip so ex- is a once in a life time experience.
ceptional; an impressive, colorful
sea life with exotic fishes, turtles Antilla shipwreck
and beautiful coral reef. The his- Antilla is a 400-foot-long long ship,
toric shipwrecks, located on the built in 1939 in Hamburg, Germany.
Aruban seabed are also worth a Antilla came to Aruba, because it
visit. Aruba is known for its white had to find a neutral port. When
beaches and blue oceans, which Germany invaded the Nether-
means there are many fascinating lands on May 10, 1940, the crew
under water spots, where you can decided to let their own ship sink,
take your snorkeling gear and we to prevent it from falling into the
selected the top spots for you. hands of the Dutch Navy. Antilla
lies on its portside in Malmok bay,
Tres Trapi and the sunken word war two ship
Tres Trapi means tree steps in Pa- is now one of Aruba’s most popu-
piamento, Papiamento is together lar snorkeling and dive spots. How- beach is a child friendly beach, part of the island. The beach is dif-
with Dutch the official language ever, the ship wreck can only be since it is shallow and the water ferent from the other beaches in
spoken on Aruba. The beach is reached by boat. The ship is visible has a pleasant temperature. The Aruba; it is beach full of mangroves.
called Tres Trapi because it is ac- from the surface and during your name therefore fits well with the You reach the beach by a bridge
cessible by the tree steps carved snorkeling trip you be surrounded beach. Baby beach is an excellent through the mangroves and then
into the rocks. Tres Trapi is a small by hundreds of tropical fishes, but beach for snorkeling, especially you will have several entrances
rocky beach, located on the the ship wreck alone is already im- if you want to go with small chil- to the sea. There are diverse spots
north-western side of the island, pressive enough. dren, because the water remains where you can enjoy a perfect
approximately 5 to 10 minute drive shallow and there are still many beach day, wooden stairs made
from Palm Beach. From the unique Baby Beach underwater wonders to see. In the to enter the water and a dock to
steps you can easily walk over the Baby beach; a white beach, with ocean there is an area marked sit on and enjoy the view. Mangel
beach into the clear and turquoise a crystal blue ocean. The beach is until where it is recommended to Halto is also worth a visit for the
blue ocean. While snorkeling you located on the southern part of the snorkel and on the beach you will snorkeling experience. Inside the
will encounter all kind of tropical island. On the way to the famous find different facilities. It is a perfect bay, the water is clear and you find
fishes and sea stars. The kind of beach, you will drive through the beach to spend your day snorkel- many colorful fish. Outside the bay
starfish you will find in the Aruban old capital of Aruba, San Nicolas. ing and relaxing. is a bit more challenging for begin-
waters is the red cushion sea star. The old Aruban culture can be still ners because of the wind and the
This is a starfish that is commonly felt and experienced here, so do Mangel Halto waves, but the coral is alive and it
found in the shallow waters of the not hesitate to get out of your car Mangel Halto beach is located in is just like snorkel heaven.q
Caribbean sea and if you are lucky and walk around for a while. Baby Savaneta, on the southern-west