Arashi Beach Snorkeling

Arashi Beach snorkeling, in short

Arashi Beach snorkeling looks like nowhere else in Aruba. The beach sits at the northwestern tip of the island. Nutrient-rich water comes round the north point, and it feeds an extraordinary density of sponges.

Orange barrel sponges grow up to a metre tall here. Purple vase sponges and yellow tube sponges grow alongside them. In short, it is a strange and vivid landscape.

What you will see

Hawksbill turtles feed directly on those sponges, because sponges are most of their diet. Therefore this is a reliable hawksbill site rather than a lucky one.

Green turtles graze the seagrass at the edges. Eagle rays patrol out at four to eight metres. Visibility runs 10 to 20 metres.

Getting in

The entry is wide, sandy and gradual. There is a large free car park, restrooms and picnic tables.

As a result this is the easiest good site on the island to spend a whole morning at. It is also one of the few where a non-snorkeler in the group is not stuck.

When Arashi Beach snorkeling works, and when it does not

May to October is best. Always go before ten in the morning.

From November to April, however, a north swell can hit this coast. When it does, the water goes from clear to unusable.

So check the windsock at the California Lighthouse on the way in. It is on the road, it takes ten seconds, and it saves you a wasted morning. If the sock is standing straight out, go to Mangel Halto instead.

Nearby

Just south, Boca Catalina is the turtle site. Malmok Beach has the eagle rays and the Antilla. Boat trips are listed under snorkeling tours, and the Aruba Tourism Authority covers the rest.

Can you reach Arashi Beach on a tour?

Not really. Arashi is a shore site with a car park and a sandy walk-in, and the snorkel fleet works the water further south around Malmok and Boca Catalina. You can swim it for nothing, whenever you like.

If you want a boat trip as well as this reef, the tours leave from the west coast and snorkel there instead. Malmok Beach and Boca Catalina are the reefs they actually visit, and the snorkeling tours page lists every one of them.