Snorkeling in Aruba: The Best Beaches and Shore Spots

The best snorkeling in Aruba from shore is on the northwest coast at Boca Catalina, Catalina Cove, Arashi Beach and Malmok, and in the south at Mangel Halto and Baby Beach. Most of it is easy to reach by car, needs no boat, and is best in the morning when the wind is lightest.

Here is where to go, what sources report seeing, how each entry works and how to stay safe. We run umbrella sets at Arashi, so keep that in mind where we talk about it.

Quick picks for snorkeling in Aruba

• Easiest entry for beginners: Arashi Beach or Baby Beach
• Most variety from shore: Boca Catalina
• Most rocky coves: Malmok
• Deep reef near shore, for strong swimmers: Mangel Halto
• A wreck: The Antilla, by boat

Northwest coast

Arashi Beach

Arashi has an easy sandy entry and calm, shallow water, and the fish are along the rocky edges. Sources disagree on which side is best. Aruba Tourism says to swim left as you enter. Other guides favor the right or north side, and one says both ends are good. Reported life includes schooling snappers, crabs, juvenile fish, eels, angelfish, blue tangs and sea sponges. Bring your own gear, since Aruba Tourism says no rental shops are nearby. See our Arashi snorkeling guide.

Suits: beginners, families and anyone who wants a full beach day around a snorkel.

Boca Catalina

Boca Catalina is a small, sheltered bay with steps to the sand and an easy sandy entry. Stay along the rocky edges. Snorkeling Report lists seagrass at 12 to 20 feet, where green sea turtles are most often seen, along with rocks at 3 to 7 feet and coral patches about 100 meters off the point. Reported species include French and queen angelfish, sergeant majors, parrotfish, trunkfish, moray eels and southern stingrays. There are no toilets or food. Tour and dive boats cross the area, so stay aware.

Suits: confident snorkelers and early risers.

Catalina Cove

Catalina Cove is just north of Boca Catalina. One writer calls the entry mostly rocky, with a small sandy strip, and recommends dive booties. Another guide calls it an easy entry, so wear water shoes either way. Parking is limited at the bend of Arashi Road. Reported life includes trunkfish, peacock flounder, snake eels, blue tangs, bar jacks and barred hamlets. Sea turtles and lobsters are more likely in the morning, and charter boats anchor offshore in the afternoon.

One writer's favorite swim starts here and follows the rocky point toward Arashi, where you can exit and walk back in about 10 minutes.

Tres Trapi

Tres Trapi, which means three steps, is on the same stretch of coast. You get in by a stairway made of rock. Aruba Tourism says it has fewer fish than its neighbors and many colorful sea stars. Look at the sea stars without touching them. My Aruba Guide says it is also known for sea turtles.

Malmok Beach

Malmok has many coves and plenty of fish over a rocky shore. Reported life includes sergeant majors, bluehead wrasse, banded butterflyfish, trunkfish, French angelfish, squid, parrotfish and trumpetfish. Sharp rocks and sea urchins make water shoes essential. There are no facilities.

Suits: strong swimmers who are comfortable on rocks.

The Antilla wreck

The SS Antilla was scuttled in 1940, during World War II, and lies off Malmok Bay about a half mile out, at 40 to 60 feet. It is reached by boat only, and one guide warns of strong currents, so do not try to swim out. Snorkelers usually stay over the shallower bow. Reported life includes yellowtail snapper, blue wrasse, angelfish, lobsters, sea turtles and colorful sponges.

South coast

Mangel Halto

Mangel Halto, at Pos Chiquito, has calm, shallow water and a reef you can walk out to. Aruba Tourism says it drops to about 110 feet. Reported life includes parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, blue tangs and stingrays, with gorgonians, sponges and anemones farther out. Islands also reports healthy elkhorn coral close to shore.

Two cautions. Aruba Tourism says strong currents can occur and advises against it for weak swimmers, and sharp rocks make entry hard. One guide warns about car break-ins, so leave nothing in your car.

Puerto Chiquito

Puerto Chiquito is next to Mangel Halto. Entry is via rock jetty walls. Islands reports cowfish, needlefish and possibly stingrays, and says swimmers can drift south with the current to Mangel Halto and walk back.

Baby Beach

Baby Beach is a shallow lagoon near San Nicolas, about 45 minutes by car from the Palm Beach hotels. Snorkeling is where the bay opens to the sea, and Aruba Tourism says to stay within the marked snorkel area. Reported life includes striped grunts, barracuda, parrotfish, angelfish and eels. You can rent gear on site, according to Aruba Tourism.

Suits: beginners and families who do not mind the drive.

Savaneta and Santo Largo

Islands lists Santo Largo near Savaneta, with sea fans, sponges and brain coral, and a drop-off beyond the shallow reefs.

Places that sources disagree on

Palm Beach appears on some snorkel lists, while In Your Pocket says shore snorkeling there is limited and a boat tour is better. Boca Grandi appears on one list, but several guides describe strong currents and unpredictable surf, so we would skip it.

By boat or at a private island

Catamarans and sailboats stop at the Antilla, Boca Catalina and Malmok. De Palm Island, a private island reached by a five-minute ferry, is another option with a ticket.

When to snorkel

Morning is the best time. Guides report the lightest wind, clearest water and fewer boats, and sea turtles are more often seen early. Trade winds blow all year and are stronger from May through October, as explained in our wind guide. Even on calm days, wind and swell can change quickly.

What to bring

• Your own mask, snorkel and fins, since guides say no rentals are close to Arashi or Boca Catalina
• Water shoes or booties for rocky entries
• Reef-safe sunscreen. Aruba has banned oxybenzone sunscreen sales since 2020
• A rash guard, since your back takes the sun while you float
• Water and snacks, since several spots have no services

Safety and sea turtle rules

• Snorkel with someone else, and do not go farther out than you can comfortably swim back.
• Most north-coast spots have no confirmed lifeguard.
• Watch for boats, especially beyond any buoy line.
• Do not touch or stand on coral.
• Do not touch, ride or chase turtles. Stay 6 to 10 feet away.
• Know your limits. Beginners should stay in the calmest, shallowest water.

Have shade waiting when you get out

Snorkeling is tiring, and the sun is hard on wet skin. At Arashi Beach, we set up one big umbrella and two beach chairs before you arrive and hold them under your name from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It costs $120.00 per set per day, all in. Snorkel Arashi, walk over to Boca Catalina and come back to your set whenever you like. Book at least 24 hours ahead and confirmation comes right away with a map.

Book your set, see how the rental works, or read the FAQ. The Aruba beaches guide compares every beach by swimming, shade and crowds.

Questions

Sources: Aruba Tourism Authority: snorkeling beaches, Islands: best snorkeling in Aruba, Princess Cruises: snorkeling beaches, Snorkeling Report: Boca Catalina, Enriching Pursuits: Boca Catalina snorkeling, My Aruba Guide: Boca Catalina, My Aruba Guide: Arashi Beach, Aruba Tourism Authority: Arashi Beach, Aruba Tourism Authority: Malmok Beach, My Aruba Guide: Malmok Beach, Aruba Tourism Authority: Mangel Halto, Aruba Tourism Authority: Baby Beach, Snorkel Around the World: Aruba wrecks, Wikipedia: SS Antilla, In Your Pocket: Aruba beaches, Be My Travel Muse: Aruba beaches, Aruba Tourism Authority: weather, VisitAruba: oxybenzone ban.