Every Flagship Aruba cruise stops at the same three locations on Aruba's northwest coast and every single one of them is worth the trip on its own. The SS Antilla shipwreck, Boca Catalina bay, and Malmok Reef are the reason guests come back year after year, and the reason our crew never gets tired of jumping in the water. Here's what you'll find at each one.
Why Flagship Aruba Goes to These Exact Spots
We didn't pick these sites at random. After years of running cruises along Aruba's northwest coast, our captains and crew know every section of reef, every current pattern, and every season. The SS Antilla, Boca Catalina, and Malmok Reef offer a perfect combination: dramatic history, calm water for beginners, and enough marine life to keep experienced snorkelers busy for hours.
All three sites sit within a short sailing distance of each other, which means more time in the water and less time on the boat getting there. On our Afternoon Snorkel Tour, you'll visit two of the three stops on the same afternoon. On private charters, we can build a custom route that hits all of them.
⚓ On every cruise: Flagship Aruba provides full snorkel gear for every guest mask, fins, and snorkel plus crew members who get in the water with you at every stop. No experience needed.
Stop 1: The SS Antilla Shipwreck
The SS Antilla is the centrepiece of every Flagship Aruba cruise and it earns that status every single time. This German cargo vessel was scuttled by her own crew in May 1940, just days after the Netherlands was occupied, to keep her out of Allied hands. She now lies on her side in 18–27 metres of water off Aruba's northwest tip near Malmok, and at 122 metres long she is the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean.
From the deck of our schooner, you can already see the wreck below that's how clear the water is. Once you're in, the scale of it hits you immediately. The rusted hull towers above the sandy seafloor, completely encrusted with soft corals in vivid oranges, purples, and yellows. Schools of sergeant majors and French grunts swirl around the superstructure in clouds. Parrotfish graze along the hull. The occasional barracuda circles the outer edge.
The shallowest sections of the wreck come within just a few metres of the surface, which means you don't need to dive down to get up close. Our crew knows exactly which sections are most accessible for surface snorkeling and will guide you straight there. First-timers and seasoned snorkelers both come up with the same expression: jaw dropped.
Bring a waterproof camera. The SS Antilla is one of the most photographed snorkel sites in the Caribbean and photos through the clear water, with the coral-covered hull in the background, come out stunning even on a phone in a waterproof case.
Stop 2: Boca Catalina
After the drama of the Antilla, Boca Catalina gives you something different: calm, shallow, gin-clear water in a protected bay where you can slow down and really look at things. The water here rarely exceeds 5 metres deep, which makes it perfect for beginners but it's also where we consistently see the most sea turtles, so experienced snorkelers love it too.
Green and hawksbill turtles feed in the sea grass beds at Boca Catalina, often completely unbothered by snorkelers who approach slowly and keep a respectful distance. Our crew know where they tend to be and will point you in the right direction but there's never a guarantee with wildlife, which makes it all the more exciting when you find one.
The coral formations here are different from the Antilla lower and more spread out, with sandy stretches between them full of reef fish. Trumpetfish hover motionless near sea fans. Blue tang and French angelfish move in pairs along the coral heads. Stingrays glide across the sandy bottom. It's quieter than the wreck, and a lot of guests end up staying in the water right up until we have to move on.
🐢 Sea turtle etiquette: Keep at least 2 metres of distance, don't touch or chase, and never block a turtle's path to the surface. They'll stay close and relaxed if you give them space. Our crew will remind everyone before you enter the water.
Stop 3: Malmok Reef
Malmok Reef runs along the northwest coastline between the Antilla and Boca Catalina a stretch of coral formations and rocky outcrops that supports an incredibly varied mix of marine life. It sees fewer visiting boats than the famous wreck, which means the fish here are less accustomed to snorkelers and behave more naturally.
The reef drops away more steeply than Boca Catalina, and snorkelers who are comfortable in deeper water can peer down into the blue and watch the larger species Spanish mackerel, jack, and the occasional nurse shark resting on the sandy bottom beneath a coral overhang. The elkhorn and staghorn coral formations here are some of the healthiest in Aruba.
Malmok is a regular stop on our private charter routes. If you're booking a private cruise and want to see the reef at its best, ask us to build your day around the morning slack tide that's when visibility is at its clearest and the nurse sharks are most reliably found.
What to Expect from Our Crew in the Water
At Flagship Aruba, we don't drop anchor and wait on deck while guests snorkel alone. Our crew members jump in with you at every stop. They know every section of the Antilla which bits are the most impressive, where the biggest grouper likes to hang out, which coral formation was damaged in the last storm and has started recovering. That knowledge makes a real difference to what you see.
If you've never snorkeled before, we'll spend a few minutes getting you comfortable with the gear before you enter the water, and someone will stay close until you're confident. If you're an experienced snorkeler who wants to explore independently, we'll point you in the right direction and let you go. The crew reads the group and adjusts accordingly it's something they've had a lot of practice at.
Reef-safe sunscreen only. We ask all guests to use reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreen no oxybenzone or octinoxate. It protects the coral we all come to see. Apply at least 20 minutes before entering the water so it's fully absorbed.
Which Tour Gets You to These Spots?
Our Afternoon Snorkel Tour visits the SS Antilla and Boca Catalina the two most popular stops as part of a 3-hour cruise that also includes an open bar, live DJ, and the famous rope swing. It's the best way to experience both sites in one afternoon, with a party atmosphere that keeps the energy high between snorkel stops.
Our private charters can be built around any combination of all three sites, at whatever pace you prefer. If you want a full morning at Malmok Reef followed by a quiet afternoon at Boca Catalina, we'll make that happen. Private charters are ideal for families, groups with mixed experience levels, or anyone who wants more time in the water and a more personal experience.
Either way, you leave having seen some of the best underwater scenery in the entire Caribbean right off the coast of a small island that most people assume is just for beach bars and casinos. The reef tells a different story entirely.
See These Spots for Yourself
Join us on the water. The SS Antilla, Boca Catalina, and the Caribbean sun are waiting snorkel gear included, crew in the water with you at every stop.