AHC10_Make Waves

Activities

Enjoy beachfront foraysMost resorts offer sensational swim-

ming right off the beach in warm, calm,clear,protectedwaters.Rent a sun-searcherpaddleboat to journey out a little, or getexpert instruction to captain your ownWaverunner,Hobie Cat, Sunfish, or oceankayak. If you have a need for speed, trypeeling out on a thrilling banana-boatride or waterskiing, kneeboarding, tubing,or wakeboarding behind a wave-skim-ming speedboat.You can also experiencethe ultimate thrill of high-flying para-sailing right off the beach giving you abird’s eye view of what’s under the wavesright beneath your toes! �

NightsPhoto by Jim Kruger 39

Activities

Make Wavesby Susan Campbell

All around Aruba, King Neptune beckons you to come and experience his captivating kingdom.Whether you seek extreme adventures or you can’t even swim a stroke, there’s marine magic

waiting for all. So, get off that beach chair and let’s make some waves!

Nights38

Immerse in underwater wonderlandThere’s a myriad of ways to discover

Aruba’s astounding undersea enchant-ment, and neophytes can begin withouteven gettingwet! Startwith a glass-bottomboat tour, a semi-submarine tour, or evena real submarine journey that takes you120 feet down in air-conditioned comfortto view the amazing array of marine lifethat thrives below. Then there’s Sea Trek,a unique underwater walking adventurewhere you are surrounded by tropicalfish yet don’t even get your hair wet!What better initiation to the wonders ofsnorkeling or even scuba diving?

Sample superb snorkelingHead out for sensational snorkeling

right offshore at spots like Arashi Beach,Boca Catalina,Malmok, Baby Beach, andfurther out atMangel Halto Beach. Frolicfreely and safely among the throngs ofangelfish, parrotfish, yellowtail snapper,and their friends amid surreal neon huesof healthy, living coral. If you haven’tsnorkeled before, most resorts and diveoperators offer lessons and equipmentrentals. But if you’re seeking somethingthat allows you to snorkel deeper andlonger, try SNUBA – a cool combinationof snorkeling and scuba. Air is suppliedthrough a hose connected to oxygen tanksthat float on rafts above. SNUBA allowsyou to follow those smiling parrotfish up

wonderful visibility from 60 to 100 feetbelow, with minimal current. There aredozens of boat and shore diving sitesincluding cool drift dive opportunitiesin spots where barracuda, frogfish, seaturtles, stingrays, moray eels, and evendolphins can be seen.Night diving here isalso an epic adventure since many color-ful ocean creatures only come out afterdark! Aruba is also a wreck-divingMeccawith dozens of sunken treasures to ex-plore like underwater airplanes, ghostships, and the Antilla, a sunken Germanfreighter. The largest wreck in the entireCaribbean, it lies completely intact in only60 feet of water; divers can explore thewhole wreck, inside and out. Resorts anddive operators offer courses of all typesfrom simple afternoon introductionsto four-day Open Water Certification.There are also Dive Master courses forthose wishing to become true under-water experts. �

to 20 feet belowwithout scuba instructionand without the weight of a heavy tank –it’s like underwater freedom!

Children as young as six can trySupplied Air Snorkeling for Youth, a.k.a.SASY, which incorporates an innovativevest apparatus with continuous air supply.SASY allows children to breathe easilywhile floating with their face in the water.Children eight to 11 can also try Bubble-maker, a pool dive program designed tointroduce underwater breathing to youngsea explorers in preparation for SNUBAand, eventually, diving. After all, whyshould adults have all the underwater funwhen you can make it a family affair?

Experience Aruba scubaIt’s ultimately fitting that Aruba

rhymes with scuba since the two go to-gether like two peas in a pod for diversof all experience levels. Serene, warmwaters off the island’s leeward side afford

Nights Top left photo by Dennis Sabo. Top right photo by Tammy Peluso. Bottom photos by Michael DeFreitas40

Activities

French angelfish

Wreck of the AntillaSNUBA

Learn to “rip” and flyOne of Aruba’s best-kept secrets is

that it offers prime conditions for anyonewanting to learn to windsurf. The bay atFisherman’s Huts provides an optimumcombination of protected, waist-high,clear water, constant trade winds, expertinstruction, and state-of-the-art equip-ment to ensure even first timers will be“ripping” on the waves in no time. Thislocation is also the spot for the annualAruba Hi-Winds – a week-long wind-surfing competition and party celebrating

Your ship has come inAruba is home port for many fabu-

lous boat excursions. Whether you seekthe thrill of a 1,000-horsepower, turbo,twin-engine speedboat guaranteed tomake you scream in both fear and delightor an über-romantic sunset sail, it’s justa reservation away. There are also pirateofferings replete with rope swings, classicoak, teak, and mahogany vessels, andparty-hearty booze cruises with livemusicand wild entertainment. Or choose fromspecial seafaring snorkel jaunts that takeyou to secret fishy hideouts and evenup close to the Antilla wreck, or classydinner cruises catered by the island’s five-star restaurants. There are also guidedocean kayak tours along and throughthe magical mangroves for a unique eco-adventure. Of course, there are tons ofcharter options available – sleek catama-rans, comfortable sailboats, luxuriousyachts and more, either bareboat or fullycrewed – to take you where you want togo, when you want to go there! �

the sport of windsurfing on a global scalewith some of the world’s absolute bestwindsurfers always in attendance. If you’relooking for even more extreme adven-ture, try the newest craze taking off atFisherman’s Huts and Boca Grandi: kite-surfing. It’s like skateboarding on theoceanwith the added excitement of beingtethered to a powerful kite and soaringthrough the air! You’ll learn to controlyour billowing kite on land and then taketo the waves with expert instruction soonto become master of the sea and sky.

Nights Photo by Pierre Arsenault42

Activities

Explore the Antilla Shipwreck onboard the semi submarine

You sit 5 ft below the surface inthe vessel’s comfortable, air-

conditioned hull, and view thespectacular underwater marinelife at the Antilla shipwreck and

Arashi reef. Ideal for families.

www.atlantissubmarines.com/aruba

Call Direct 588-6881for reservations

Nights Top photo by Brad Dyksen. Middle photo by Shelly Au44

Activities

Catch deep-sea fishing feverCast a line out to fate and see if you

can catch your own fresh fish dinner withan exciting sport-fishing excursion. Anabundance of sailfish, white and bluemarlin, wahoo, shark, barracuda, amber-jack, kingfish, bonito, blackfin and yel-lowfin tuna are all waiting just offshoreto test your skills. And if you are luckyenough to reel in a big one, many res-taurants will cook and serve you yourfreshly caught catch!

Make waves on landWonderfully wet family fun can also

be found on land at Aruba’s water parks.The new Morgan’s Island is the largestwater park in the entire Caribbean! It’sa massive outdoor complex full of slip-sliding, heart-stopping, and spray-crazyfun for all ages. Blue Parrot Water Parkon De Palm Island is another great fam-ily option complete with the requisitewater slides and fountains.

Out to seaThe only drawback to discovering

all the watersports Aruba offers is thatsomeone might try to grab your emptybeach chair!All themore reason to answerNeptune’s call and head back out to sea.Enjoy! �

Please refer to the listing onpages 46-47 for information on touroperators offering these activities.

Restaurants Car Rentals ActivitiesAccommodations • Cellphone Rentals

Land & Sea Fun • Watersports • RelaxationEntertainment • Shopping • and more…

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BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIESFROM ALL OVER

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A visit to Aruba’sButterfly Farm

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Water Activity TipsRemember that the Caribbean

sun is very strong, especially whenreflected off the water and is at its

strongest between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.To avoid burning and heat exhaustion,

stay well hydrated, slather on thesunscreen and wear a hat and T-shirt.On the water, remain safe by respectingthe marked barriers and boundariesof activities and partake with a buddyif possible. When swimming, diving,and snorkeling be careful not to touchthe coral as it is harmful for them,and on the beaches, please take onlyphotographs and leave only footprints.