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local Saturday 13 September 2025
Up for a snorkeling adventure in Aruba? Top 3 shipwrecks to explore

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

Lessons from our elders:

Plants and fruits for medicinal use

(Oranjestad)— Though west- sure, it is best not to eat too to notice the ground crack
ern medicine is now widely much sweet potato, as this underneath the flowers, it is
used for common illnesses raises blood pressure. Sweet time to harvest. This should
and to keep our bodies potatoes are also great for happen around month 3.
healthy and happy, it is people who work hard la-
still very common in every bor jobs, and it’s been said Pomegranate
household in Aruba (and to be aid blood circulation Pomegranates are also one
around the world) to have in the body, as well as help of the easier fruits to plant
staple home remedies that is those with hemorrhoids or and harvest. Originated from they need enough time to skin tea can help those that
passed on through genera- diarrhea. Persia, this plant can grow al- fully ripen before harvesting, suffer from diarrhea. Dried
tions. Here are some tips that most everywhere. In Aruba, otherwise you might end up pomegranate skin tea is also
our elders have passed on to Many of our elders opted to there are many homes that with bitter seeds. Pomegran- good for people who have
us over the years. plant sweet potatoes them- have a tiny or big pomegran- ate trees are also very easy worms. Pomegranate flow-
selves, mostly because of ate tree. You may be won- to plant. In essence, if you ers can be boiled to make
Sweet potato how easy it was to do so. Cut dering what the difference just throw the seeds on the a drink and this can be used
According to our elders, the end of a sweet potato let is between a small and big ground, they could grow into for irritated gums; just take a
sweet potato is mostly use- it sit in shallow water until it pomegranate tree, for which a tree. swig and let the tea sit in your
ful for low blood pressure. starts to sprout. Then you may the answer is based on har- mouth for a couple minutes.
People who suffer from low plant it in the ground. Sweet vest time. Tiny trees produce In terms of medicinal use,
blood pressure were advised potatoes need plenty of wa- tinier pomegranates that pomegranate skins are Source: Remedi i Kustumber
to eat sweet potato 2 to 3 ter to grow, especially in the can be harvested early on. said to have a few benefits di nos Bieunan (Medicine
times a week. However, if first week in the ground. It Contrarily, big trees produce for our health. According and Customs of our Elderly)
you have high blood pres- was said that once you start bigger pomegranates, but to customs, pomegranate by Dinah Veerisq