BOAT DIVES DESCRIPTIONS-Southeast side of the Island

(ALL OF THESE DIVES ARE DRIFT DIVES EXCEPT THE ANTILLA WRECK)

Renaissance Airplanes: Two airplanes sunk on purpose. The Convair 340, is a wreckage, broken up into pieces by hurricanes who passed close to Aruba and the YS-11 an old Aruban Airline, which is still fully intact, both lay at a maximum depth of 85ft/26m. Both planes are right off the reef. Due to the stability of both planes, penetration is permitted.

Sponge Reef: A reef filled with different types of colorful sponges-Elephant Ears, Brown Ball, Purple Tube and Branching, Yellow Tube and Brown Branching. Reef slopes down to a maximum depth of 90ft/28m.

Jane Sea Wreck: Venezuelan cement cargo ship sunk as an artificial reef back in 1988. The wreck is encrusted with corals sitting upright right off a beautiful coral reef. The bow is at 60ft/18m, the top of the stern is at 45ft/15m and the propeller is at 90ft/28m. The wreck is right off the reef. Due to the instability of this wreck, because she is collapsing, penetration is not permitted.

Barcadera Reef: Nice hard coral reef area which has slopes going down to a maximum depth of 90ft/28m.

Morning Star/Mi Dushi Wrecks: The Morning Star wreck is a freighter that has her middle section hollowed out. She was sunk in the 1980’s and her depth is about 90-120feet/28-37m. Next to her is the Mi Dushi schooner that was sunk in 2015. She used to be a snorkel boat for tourists. Now both wrecks serve as a dive site and for the Atlantis Submarine. After the wrecks, we finish the dive on a nice reef. We only do this site when there are no freighters coming in or out of the channel.

Bali Barge Wreck: This barge was the bottom of the Bali restaurant that was moored in the Renaissance Marina. Her depth is about 90-140feet/28-43m. She was sunk in the 1980’s. After the wreck, we finish the dive on a nice reef.

Topaz: This wreck was sunk sometime in the late 80’s or early 90’s as a dive site but it is very deep. Shallowest is ~110ft/37m and deepest is 140+ft/47m. She is a metal boat with her center open. The engine housing is sitting next to her. After the wreck, we finish the dive on a nice reef.

Balashi Reef/Plonco Reef: This reef has hard and soft corals alternating with patched of sand in between called a spur and groove, an abundance of different fish, and depending on which way the current is going you can even see a slope/wall. Maximum depth is 70ft/22m.

Arashi Reef: This young flat reef is filled with surprises. It serves as a cleaning station for green and hawksbill turtles. If Mother Nature permits, you will be able to see at least one on this dive site! You will see patches of reef, hard and soft corals, with plenty of schools of fish and invertebrates all at a max depth of 50 ft/16m.

Antilla Wreck: A German freighter sunk on purpose by its own captain on May 10, 1940. The Dutch government on the island at the time tried to take it but it was too late. The wreck is approximately 430ft/144m. long and lays at a max depth of 55ft/16.5m on a sandy bottom. The wreck is covered in corals, sponges and has plenty of marine life surrounding it. Due to its age, we do not penetrate this wreck.

Kantil Reef: A nice reef area with plenty of hard and soft coral. The reef goes down into a slope, even resembling a wall that goes down to approximately 100ft/33m at one point.

Tire Reef: A nice reef area that obtained its name due to the presence of several coral encrusted tires (the tires are no longer there). Plenty of hard and soft corals can be found, not to mention an abundance of different fish. This reef has a maximum depth of 80ft/27m.

Barrel Gardens: This reef has a maximum depth of 80ft/27m. At that point there is a “shark cave” that sometimes has nurse sharks in it. Around 40-60ft/12-18m you can find big barrel sponges surrounded by soft corals.

Harbor Reef/Tugboat: A gentle sloping reef with a lot of soft corals with patches of hard corals and a sunken tugboat which was sunk in the 1980’s at a maximum depth of 90ft/30m.

Masbango Reef: A gentle sloping reef with patches of hard corals and some soft corals surrounded by sand. Depth ranges from 20-60ft/6-18m. It is located next to the Renaissance Airplanes.

Channel Reef: Between Barcadera Reef and Barrell Gardens Reef/Tire Reef. A nice small reef that has soft and hard corals. The maximum depth is 70ft/25m. We only do this site when there are no freighters come in or out of the channel.

Skalahein Reef: After the Balashi Reef, this reef has a lot of hard corals and schooling fish. The maximum depth is around 75ft/25m.

Fingers Reef: Beautiful reef formations resembling the shape of a finger. The reef can go down to 120ft/37m, but we usually stay at a max of 90ft/28m to obtain an average bottom time and accommodate different experience levels.

DePalm Slope: Off DePalm Island. Goes down to a maximum depth of 100ft/33m. You will see coral formations and often done as a drift dive, there are barracudas, parrotfish, surgeonfish, yellowtail grunts and sergeant majors, spotted eagle rays are often seen

Commandeurs Reef: Lots of soft corals-sea fans, sea rods and sea plumes with patches of hard coral. The maximum depth is around 100ft/33m. We only go to these sites on special charters.

Lago Reef: Lots of soft and hard corals in between are patches of sand. The maximum depth is around 100ft/33m. We only go to these sites on special charters.

Indian Head Reef: The name is from the formation of the small island that it is off because it looks like an Indian head. It has a lot of patches of hard coral at a maximum depth of 90ft/30m. We only go to these sites on special charters.