Any insight on Aruba?

[ndv21]

Hi Everyone,

I will be going to Aruba in June for my Honeymoon and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on dive operators / locations / best dive sites etc. Any input will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[ScubaGolf]

We were on Aruba in February for one day off of a cruise ship. I researched dive operators and selected Clive with Dive Aruba. Clive came highly rated. Small boat with four divers and Clive. He took us to really good dive sites including the Jane Sea Freighter Wreck (depth 30'-80'.) The freighter is almost 200 feet long and is surrounded by some spectacular sea fans and brain corals. On the day we dove with Clive, other operators went to the north where visibility was reported to be awful. We had 100+ viz and two really good dives. One thing, Clive has no crew. He guided the first dive to the Jane Sea, with the boat anchored. The second dive was a drift dive. Clive dove with us for the first 20 minutes, and then he went back up on the boat, and then picked us up at the end of the dive. One of the other divers with us was very experienced at diving with Clive (like 300 dives in 10 years of part-time residence on the island) and served like a DM for us. We enjoyed the dive, but I still don't know how Clive handled the boat on the drift dive. He may have let the boat drift with us and then was able to swim back to it. If this stuff makes you nervous, you may want to select another operator with a larger boat and a crew.

[JCAT]

We spent a week on Aruba two years ago and fell in love with the place. Not for it's diving, but it's laid back atmosphere. This depends on where you stay as well. The two main areas are the low rise and high rise areas. The low rise area is made up of resorts no taller than 3 stories. The high rise area resembles condo hotels.

We dove with Pelican/Unique (two companies merged) and their located in the high rise area. If your in the low rise area, they'll come pick you up at most places. They have a few wrecks on that end including the "Antilla", Pendernalis, and a twin engine cargo plane.

Aruba is not really a dive destination, but it is enjoyable and worth the effort. There is little current and the sea is usually calm. Night dives are somewhat better as more critters come out. I would compare it to diving in Jamaica or Myrtle Beach SC. It's ok, but its not the Keys, Roatan, or Bonaire.

Things to remember and do.

Eating is expensive, if your there for any length of time, hit the grocery store. If you want great food, try Iguana Joes. Downtown, 2nd floor balcony dining.

Taxis are expensive, ride the bus. From the low rise area to downtown is around $1 one person.

Forget Hairspray or keeping hair neat. The trade winds are blowing constantly and around noon you'll be thankful they are. (wife made me put that last bit in)

Travel to the back side of the Island as well, a very different looking coast line.

If you get the chance, take a ride on a sub to 120' in the main channel.

Eagle Beach is Beautiful. Look for photos under my profile.

hope this helps a little.

[Jaymeany]

Dive Aruba - Scuba Classes, Dive Trips and Equipment Rentals CLIVE IS GREAT!!!!! I loved his operation!

[mermoose]

I was in Aruba in 2007. It is a very small Island, I preferred the low-rise end of the island. We dove with JADS dive shop at Baby beach and really liked them. They take only small groups,were very competitive in price and were personable. It's not a fancy operation. Take your own lunch or have a bologna sandwich for lunch during surface interval.The Baby beach area is where we did most of our dives. The high rise ends has sites well worth diving but I don't like be be on the same wreck with five or six boats overhead and dozens of other divers on the same site.

[DevilDiver]

Sorry..... Had to hijack.

Originally Posted by ScubaGolf

One thing, Clive has no crew. He guided the first dive to the Jane Sea, with the boat anchored. The second dive was a drift dive. Clive dove with us for the first 20 minutes, and then he went back up on the boat, and then picked us up at the end of the dive.

Not a good idea, Clive might be a great guy and there are some people who own their own boat that might choose to do this and this is their choice but an operator should know better especially doing drift dives. What if the boat came loose and drifted or sank or got stolen by pirates what then? What if Clive had a heart attack or some one got injured?

Originally Posted by ScubaGolf

One of the other divers with us was very experienced at diving with Clive (like 300 dives in 10 years of part-time residence on the island) and served like a DM for us.

Bad business, paying customers should not be responsible for other paying customers. Did this person even have training to guide a group? Experience is great (300 dives in ten years is not much for a working DM) but training and experience is better.

OK.... Back to Aruba.

[Skred]

Some good info on Aruba available here:

Aruba!