Antilla Wreck
Protected Area
Westpunt
Why dive here
With 82+ marine species recorded in the area - including orcas, sea turtles, whale sharks, frogfish and lionfish - Antilla Wreck offers some of Aruba Leeward Coast's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 28°C.
The Antilla is pure joy, a proper wreck dive that’s accessible to just about anyone. Dropping down onto that vast, dark hull, you really feel the scale of this thing – 400 feet of history sitting upright on the sand. It’s shallow enough, 18 metres at the deepest, that you get great light penetration, which makes exploring the open cargo holds a real treat. We love swimming through the massive internal spaces, seeing the schools of French grunts and squirrelfish that now call them home. Outside, the superstructure is draped in orange cup corals, and we’ve often spotted hawksbill turtles slowly grazing on the encrusting sponges. It’s also our favourite spot for macro photography, with colourful little tobacco basslets tucked into every crevice and cherub pygmy angelfish flitting around the railings. If you’re into wrecks, this is a fantastic introduction, offering plenty to see without any serious current or depth concerns. Get there early to beat the crowds; it makes a huge difference.
Typical Antilla Wreck Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Antilla Wreck Wreck History
Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
4,363 GRT
The SS Antilla, a 400-foot German freighter, has a dramatic history tied to the outbreak of World War II. Launched in 1939 for the Hamburg America Line, her career was cut short when war erupted. The Antilla sought refuge in the neutral waters of Dutch-controlled Aruba, where she remained for several months, a silent observer as global conflict escalated.
The ship's fate was sealed on May 10, 1940, when Germany invaded the Netherlands. Faced with the imminent seizure of his vessel by Dutch authorities, Captain Ferdinand Schmidt made a fateful decision. He ordered his crew to open the seacocks and set fires onboard, scuttling the brand-new ship to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The crew was taken ashore and the Antilla slowly sank, becoming a permanent fixture in Aruban waters.
Today, the Antilla is hailed as the largest shipwreck dive in the Caribbean. Lying on her port side in relatively shallow water ranging from 5 to 18 meters, she is a spectacular and accessible site for divers of all levels. The wreck is largely intact, allowing exploration of its vast cargo holds, portholes, and deck fittings. Over the decades, it has transformed into a vibrant artificial reef, encrusted with coral and sponges and teeming with tropical fish, green moray eels, and sea turtles.
Nearest Dive Centres to Antilla Wreck
Dive shops near Antilla Wreck
Aqua Windies
Fly and Dive
Nautilus Dive Center Aruba
Aruba Watersafety Institute
JADS Dive Center
Reviews for Antilla Wreck
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Antilla Wreck
Antilla Wreck Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Antilla Wreck, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (12.54, -70.04) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
27.72°C
82°F
Air Temperature
28.9°C
84°F
Wind Speed
8.6 m/s
16.7 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1011.4 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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