PORTO SALVO - Aruba Leeward Coast
Porto Salvo isn't one for beginners. Down at 37 metres, this fishing vessel is a serious deep dive, a classification the local authorities also give it: "dangerous wreck". And they’re not wrong. It’s broken up quite a bit, but that just adds to the atmosphere. We love descending onto her, seeing that dark shape emerge from the blue. The wreck itself, while not huge, is nicely covered in sponges and gorgonians, giving it a soft, colourful fuzz. You’ll spot the usual Caribbean reef fish - plenty of snapper, grunts, and often a patrolling barracuda or two. Our favourite part? Peering into the darker nooks where the resident moray eels like to hang out. Entry is generally calm on this side of Aruba, but keep an eye on your bottom time. This is a dive for experienced deep divers who appreciate a good, honest wreck without the crowds.
- Location
- Aruba Leeward Coast, Aruba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 11.745833, -70.288890
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 37m
Best Time to Dive in Aruba Leeward Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Aruba Leeward Coast occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.7°C (air: 26.7°C)
- February: 27.7°C (air: 26.5°C)
- March: 27.7°C (air: 26.8°C)
- April: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
- May: 27.7°C (air: 28.0°C)
- June: 27.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- July: 27.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- August: 27.7°C (air: 28.9°C)
- September: 27.7°C (air: 29.5°C)
- October: 27.7°C (air: 29.0°C)
- November: 27.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- December: 27.7°C (air: 27.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Aruba Leeward Coast
- Airplanes (Wreck) (cave)
- Airplanes (Wreck) (wreck)
- Antilla (Wreck) (wreck)
- Antilla (Wreck) (reef)
- Antilla Wreck - 5-18m (wreck)
- Arashi Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Arashi (Wreck) (wreck)
- Arashi (Wreck) (reef)
- Aruba (wreck)
- Aruba (reef)
- Barcadera Reef (reef)
- Barcadera Reef (reef)
- Blue Reef / Debbie II (Wreck) (wreck)
- Blue Reef / Debbie II (Wreck) (wreck)
- BORBURATA - 22m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to PORTO SALVO
- Aqua Windies
- Aruba Watersafety Institute - SSI
- Fly and Dive
- JADS Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Nautilus Dive Center Aruba - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Aruba Leeward Coast
Home to 92 recorded species including 55 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 hard corals, 6 crabs & lobsters, 4 other, 4 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Bay Whiff (Citharichthys spilopterus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Yellowline Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Hieroglyphic Cone (Conus hieroglyphus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Elegant Brittle Star (Ophiolepis elegans)
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
- West Indian Alphabet Cone (Conus spurius) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blackspot Grenadier (Coelorinchus caelorhincus) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic Midshipman (Porichthys plectrodon) - Reef Fish
- Common Atlantic Grenadier (Nezumia aequalis) - Reef Fish
- Sand Dollar (Clypeaster subdepressus) - Sea Urchins
- Pacific Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) - Reef Fish
- Eyed Flounder (Bothus ocellatus) - Reef Fish
- Shortnose batfish (Ogcocephalus nasutus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser Starlet Coral (Siderastrea radians) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for PORTO SALVO
Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories