Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour

The best part of this Aruba excursion is the Seabob underwater scooter, which pulls you across the water and lets you descend below the surface with less effort than ordinary snorkeling. You can reach the Antilla shipwreck near Arashi Beach, then continue along the coast to reefs, turtles, fish, and Tres Trapi’s famous red starfish.

I like the small maximum of 15 people, which gives guides such as Tony, Alex, and Richard room to watch the group and point out sea life. I also like the simple setup: hotel or port pickup, equipment, bottled water, and a trained guide are included. The main consideration is physical effort. Choppy water can tire your arms, and the Seabob’s chest gauge may feel uncomfortable for some people.

Key Details Before You Book

• The Antilla is the main attraction: This 1940 shipwreck is about 400 feet long and can be seen from the surface before you move closer.
• The Seabob changes the snorkeling experience: You can travel farther and move below the surface faster than with a standard mask and fins.
• The route includes more than the wreck: Boca Catalina, Tres Trapi, and Arashi Beach add shallow reef, fish, turtles, and starfish.
• The group stays fairly small: No more than 15 people join the excursion, with guides in the water to help.
• The tour takes about two and a half hours: Actual time in the water has been closer to one and a half hours for at least one participant, so ask about the schedule if every minute matters.
• Come ready for a workout: The scooter is easy to learn, but rough water and steering can work your upper body.

Why the Seabob Makes the Antilla Different

Regular snorkeling asks you to swim under your own power. A Seabob gives you a small jet-powered scooter that pulls you forward while you hold on and steer. It is highly buoyant, and the controls are simple enough that first-time users usually learn quickly.

That extra power matters at the Antilla. The wreck is large, roughly 400 feet long, and sits offshore from Aruba’s northwest coast. From the surface, you can already see its shape. The scooter then helps you move closer and go below the surface to inspect parts of the structure.

I like this setup because it makes the wreck feel like part of an active outing rather than a distant object viewed from a boat. You are moving along the coast, scanning for fish and turtles, then using the Seabob to get a closer look. It is still snorkeling, but with a motor attached.

The scooter does not remove all physical effort. You steer by shifting your body and holding the handles, and one participant found the chest area uncomfortable. Rough water can also make the ride tiring. If your arms, shoulders, or upper body tire easily, treat this as a real water activity, not a passive sightseeing trip.

Starting at Adventure Sports Aruba

The tour begins with instruction and equipment at Adventure Sports Aruba. You receive snorkeling gear and work with a professionally trained Seabob guide before heading along the coast.

The most reassuring detail is how easy the controls appear to be for beginners. Several people found the machine simple to operate, with one person describing it as nearly a one-button experience. The guides also make a point of helping first-time users get comfortable before the group moves farther from shore.

That support matters. A motorized water scooter can sound complicated when you first hear about it, but you do not need advanced technical skills. You need to hold on, steer, and follow the guide. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the maximum group size is 15.

Guides named Tony, Alex, and Richard have led groups on this route. Tony received particular praise for watching over the group and helping an older participant feel comfortable. Alex was also singled out for taking time to show sea life and the wreck. The guide you meet can vary, but the operation is built around close supervision and local knowledge of the water.

Hotel and port pickup and drop-off are included, which makes this easier to fit into an Aruba holiday or cruise stop. Bathroom facilities and bottled water are also provided. Food is not included, so eat beforehand or plan for a meal afterward.

Boca Catalina’s Shallow Reef

Boca Catalina is one of the first major water stops. This shallow reef gives you a gentler introduction to Aruba’s marine life before the route reaches the shipwreck.

You might see angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, squid, and octopus here. Turtles and many smaller fish have also appeared during the tour. The Seabob lets you glide across more reef area than you could comfortably cover by swimming alone, so you have more chances to spot movement in the water.

This stop is valuable for two reasons. First, the shallow water can help you get used to the scooter. Second, it gives you a broad look at Aruba’s underwater life instead of making the wreck the only goal.

The drawback is that sea conditions control the experience. A calm day should make the ride easier and more relaxed. Choppy water can make the trip feel more like exercise, and one person with motion sickness still felt unwell after taking medication. If you are prone to motion sickness, this is worth taking seriously.

A fitted one-piece swimsuit is a sensible choice, especially in rough water. One participant specifically recommended it for women. You should also keep sunscreen away from your face, since it can run into your eyes and cause burning while you are in the water.

Reaching the Antilla Shipwreck

The Antilla is the star of the tour. It sank in 1940 and has since become a home for sea sponges, fish, lobsters, and turtles. Its size gives you something substantial to explore, not just a small object on the seafloor.

The route takes you from shore toward the wreck, with the Seabob doing much of the forward work. You can first look at the Antilla from the surface, then use the scooter to move below the water and inspect it more closely. This is where the machine earns its price.

The wreck is not presented as a dry historical visit. You will not walk through it or receive a long museum-style talk. Instead, the guide points out what you are seeing in the water and may draw your attention to fish, coral, or other marine life around the structure.

I like that combination of movement and discovery. The ride to the wreck is part of the fun, and the wreck itself becomes a living reef. You may see turtles and several types of fish along the way, not just at the final stop.

One important scheduling point deserves attention. The advertised experience lasts about two hours and 30 minutes, but actual time in the water can be shorter. One participant reported roughly an hour and a half of water time and only about five rushed minutes at the wreck. That appears to be an outlier compared with the many highly positive experiences, but if Antilla is your main reason for booking, confirm how much time the group normally spends there.

Tres Trapi and the Red Starfish

After the wreck and reef areas, the route continues toward Tres Trapi. This small sandy cove sits below a rocky limestone overhang and is known for red cushion starfish on the white sea floor.

The setting gives the tour a change of pace. The Antilla is large and dramatic. Tres Trapi is smaller, shallower, and focused on detail. Look below you for the starfish, and keep your movements gentle around them.

The stop also shows why a guided outing can be useful. The guide can point out animals you might swim past on your own, including starfish and smaller marine life. Guides have also spotted stingrays, pelicans, and turtles along the route.

Do not expect every animal on every departure. Wildlife sightings depend on the day, water clarity, and luck. The tour can offer strong chances to see marine life, but no guide can promise a particular turtle, squid, octopus, or ray.

Ending at Arashi Beach

The tour finishes at the Arashi Beach Shack, a popular beach stop near the wreck area. This gives you a simple place to end the water portion rather than returning to a boat or a distant marina.

Arashi Beach also helps with the overall flow of the outing. You begin with instruction, travel along several coastal areas, visit the Antilla, and finish at a beach. It feels more varied than a single-location snorkeling session.

You should still think about timing. The full experience is listed at about two and a half hours, but the amount of time spent at each location may shift with weather, sea conditions, and the pace of the group. A small group can help, but it does not remove the need to follow the guide’s schedule.

What the $120 Price Buys You

At $120 per person, this tour costs more than a basic beach snorkel. You are paying for the Seabob, guide service, snorkeling equipment, transportation from a hotel or port, bottled water, and access to several coastal stops.

The Seabob is the key value. If you want to try a personal underwater scooter and get closer to a major shipwreck, the added cost is easier to justify. You also avoid arranging separate transport and equipment.

The price makes less sense if you mainly want a slow swim from the beach. The machine is the reason to choose this trip, and the experience is best for someone curious about a more active way to see Aruba’s underwater world.

The 4.9 rating from 137 ratings and 97 percent recommendation figure suggest a very strong overall record. Still, the lower scores point to the same practical issues: rough water, motion sickness, physical strain, and not enough time at the wreck for one participant. I would use those warnings to choose the right day and prepare properly, not dismiss the tour altogether.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

I would choose this for a family with older children, a couple looking for something more active than a catamaran ride, or anyone who has already tried ordinary snorkeling and wants a new way to move through the water.

It also suits first-time Seabob users. The machine is easy to learn, and guides help beginners. Several people found the scooter less intimidating than expected and wished the outing lasted longer.

You should think twice if you get motion sickness, dislike choppy water, or have trouble using your arms for an extended period. The tour is not described as requiring advanced swimming ability, but it does involve open water, steering, and repeated movement.

The group limit of 15 is useful for families and first-time users. It gives the guide a manageable number of people to monitor, and the guide can point out sea life instead of simply leading everyone from one spot to the next.

Practical Tips for a Better Ride

• Wear a secure swimsuit, especially if the sea is rough.
• Avoid putting sunscreen on your face, since it may run into your eyes.
• Bring an open mind about the wildlife. Turtles, fish, starfish, rays, squid, octopus, lobsters, and pelicans have been seen, but sightings vary.
• Expect to learn the Seabob before traveling far from shore.
• If the wreck is your priority, ask how much time is normally spent at Antilla.
• Remember that food is not included, though bottled water is provided.
• Children need an accompanying adult.
• Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.

Should You Book the Antilla Seabob Tour?

I would book it if you want an active Aruba excursion built around the Seabob rather than a standard snorkel. The chance to glide from the coast to the Antilla, go below the surface beside a 400-foot wreck, and look for turtles and reef fish gives this outing a clear identity.

I would skip it if you want a quiet beach day, are highly prone to motion sickness, or need a guaranteed long visit at the wreck. For everyone else, the combination of helpful guides, pickup service, small-group size, and unusual equipment makes the $120 price reasonable. Bring a secure swimsuit, protect your eyes from sunscreen, and expect a fun upper-body workout along with the sightseeing.

FAQ

Where does the Antilla Seabob Tour take place?

The tour takes place in Oranjestad, Aruba, along the coast near Arashi Beach. It includes stops at Boca Catalina, Tres Trapi, and Arashi Beach.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes. Actual time in the water can vary.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $120 per person.

Is hotel or port pickup included?

Yes. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included.

What equipment is provided?

Snorkeling equipment and use of the Seabob are included. Bottled water is also provided.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 15 travelers.

Do I need previous Seabob experience?

No previous Seabob experience is stated as a requirement. The guides provide assistance, and the controls are described as easy for first-time users to learn.

Can children join?

Yes, children can participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.