Mangel Halto Snorkeling

Mangel Halto snorkeling, in short

Mangel Halto snorkeling gives you the healthiest coral in Aruba. The site sits on the south coast, behind a mangrove fringe. Star and brain coral grow here, along with sea fans.

There is enough structure that the fish have somewhere to live. As a result you see large parrotfish here, and small ones almost everywhere else.

The water

The bay is sheltered. Depth runs from half a metre to eight metres. Visibility sits between 15 and 25 metres on a normal morning.

Green turtles graze the seagrass beds. Spotted eagle rays pass through. Moray eels live in the coral heads, and lobsters sit under the ledges. Look into the ledges rather than over them.

Getting in

There are two entries. The sandy centre is the easy one: wade out, fin up at knee depth, then swim about fifty metres to the reef.

Alternatively, use the rocky shelf on the left. It is faster. However, the limestone is sharp, so water shoes are not optional there.

Parking is free at the roadside. There are no facilities at all: no toilets, no shade, no gear rental, nowhere to buy water. Therefore bring what you need before you drive down.

When to come

Come between seven and ten in the morning. December to April is the better half of the year.

The trade wind builds through the day, because Aruba sits in its path. By lunchtime the chop on this coast costs you several metres of visibility. The water stays 26 to 29°C year-round, so the wind decides your month, not the temperature.

The honest warning about Mangel Halto snorkeling

Stay inside the sheltered bay. The east-facing coast beyond it is open Atlantic. It has real current and nobody watching, and it kills people who underestimate it.

Nearby

For turtles, go to Boca Catalina. For families, Baby Beach is calmer. Boat trips are listed under snorkeling tours.

Can you reach Mangel Halto on a tour?

No. Mangel Halto sits on the south coast behind the mangroves, and the commercial snorkel boats sail the leeward side well to the north-west. Nothing leaving Palm Beach comes anywhere near it. You drive down, walk in off the sand and swim out about fifty metres.

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.