SS Antilla - Aruba Leeward Coast
There’s something about a shipwreck that just gets us, and the SS Antilla is one of our favourites in the Caribbean. This German freighter, scuttled in 1940, lies on its side in about 18 metres of water, making it perfect for an extended no-decompression dive. We love drifting along the intact hull, feeling the sheer scale of the ship as it stretches out, covered in sponges and soft corals. You can swim through some of the larger cargo holds, where the light shafts cut through the water, illuminating schools of snapper and barracuda that hang motionless in the shadows. Look closely, and you’ll spot tobacco basslets peeking from crevices, and sometimes a hawksbill turtle glides past, unbothered by divers. The Antilla feels more like a living reef these days, rather than just a wreck. Our tip: go early to beat the crowds, the visibility is often at its best then, and the light entering the holds is just magic.
- Location
- Aruba Leeward Coast, Aruba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.602079, -70.057720
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Westpunt
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 SS Antilla
- 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 SS Antilla
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