Dive on the wrecks of the Sonesta aircraft on Aruba

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The diving in the wrecks of the Sonesta aircraft in Aruba was scary and surreal, but ultimately exciting

I am hopeless in the fish determination. My memory is miserable and I don't like to dive with a fish ID table-it simply becomes a piece of disorder that is added to the essential things (manometer, lung machines, diving computers and my camera). Therefore, it is unlikely that I can identify it unless it is a red -fire fish, a bridle, a clownfish, a whale, a dolphin or a shark.

to be honest, it doesn't really bother me. When it comes to diving, I am more interested in seeing or trying out something new or unique, unless it is a really amazing reef system (such as our dives on the Great Barrier Reef), like our recent wall diving in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I loved our wreck dive in Dschibuti and diving with sharks on the Galápagos. When we saw the opportunity to hire an aircraft wreck in Aruba during our 11-day cruise from Charleston, we immediately registered.

The two aircraft known as Sonesta Airplanes, a convarian 240 (or a DC-3; it can be argued) and a YS-11 lie off the coast of Aruba and were deliberately sunk to create an artificial reef for divers.

We booked a dive with two tanks at Se Aruba Fly N Dive, a local company directly on the beach of Oranjestad, the capital of the Dutch island of Aruba. It proved to be one of the most surreal dives that we have ever done.

After we met in the diving shop and created our wetsuits and fins, we drove out to the sea for a few minutes to prepare for our first dive. It was a while since Kia and I had dipped (the last time Steves Bommie was in Australia), but we quickly got familiar and after the usual security checks we were back in the sea and climbed on the way to our first page.

Soon we came up with the first signs of rubble. The convair fuselage is split into two parts, with several smaller wreckage being scattered on the sandy bottom of the Sonesta reef.

  • Alt = "A propeller that was seen when the Sonesta aircraft wrecks were seen in Aruba">
  • Alt = "The tail fin, which was seen for the first time while diving in Sonesta's aircraft wrecks in Aruba">
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  • Alt = "The wing one of the aircraft that could be seen when diving in front of the wrecks of the Sonesta aircraft in Aruba">
The different parts of the convarian aircraft

First, a rear fin appeared, followed by a propeller, a motor, a wing and then most of the fuselage: a two -part cave -like shell that can explore divers up close.

The convair itself is an impressive place, but it is the YS-11 that really stole our breath. This old passenger aircraft still has an intact fuselage through which the diver can swim easily.

When the wreck came in sight, it was really difficult to understand. Diving is surreal enough - it physically takes us from our world and puts us in another in which complacency is fatal - but to find a machine of the sky that rests silently and relaxed on the seabed is simply amazing.

alt = “The main hull of the diving of the Sonesta aircraft wrecks in Aruba”> Atlas & Boots Our first look at the YS-11

We swam the width of the fuselage through the doors directly behind the cockpit before we circumnavigated the entire plane. Then we dive back into the fuselage and swam over the entire length, from the rear doors to the front - a through and through surreal experience.

After a few minutes of exploration of the wreck, we made our way back to the surface. Our second dive was on the picturesque Garden Reef, but actually the Sonesta aircraft wrecks were the highlight of our trip.

Our Caribbean cruise had 11 idyllic days with swimming, snorkeling and lazy ones on untouched beaches, but drifting through the chamber of the YS-11 aircraft with its sharp carpet made of seapox and the eerie underwater light offered the best moment of the entire journey.

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  • Alt = "The back of the fuselage, seen when diving the Sonesta aircraft wrecks in Aruba">
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  • Alt = "Garden Reef, our second dive after the aircraft wrecks from Sonesta on Aruba">
  • Alt = "Our second dive when diving the Sonesta in Aruba">
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dive on the wrecks of the Sonesta aircraft in Aruba: the most important

what: Dive as part of an 11-day carnival cruise from Charleston to the wrecks of the Sonesta aircraft in Aruba and keep in St. Thomas on the American Virgin Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Grand Turk on the Turks and Caicosinseln and Princess Cays on the Bahamas.

If you have time for further dives, read our guide to the best dive sites in Aruba according to divemasters.

Where: We stayed in a balcony cabin on board the Carnival Sunshine. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and the balcony was worth a visit.

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  • Alt = "on the way to one of the best diving sites in Aruba">
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The ship itself is equipped with countless food and entertainment options. For daily food we liked Blueiguana Cantina and Pizzeria del Capitano. For dinner we recommend paying the small surcharge to dine at least once in each of the specialty restaurants (Steakhouse, Jiji Asian Kitchen and Cucina del Capitano).

When: Diving on Sonesta in Aruba's aircraft wrecks is possible all year round. Visit the best weather between December and April: hot, sunny and dry with low humidity and mild nights.

like: We booked our dive at the local experts SE Aruba Fly N Dive, who talked about our options and helped us to select the best diving site based on our short time in Aruba. Our divemaster was knowledgeable and professional and helped to make the dive one of the best we have ever done.

We booked our Caribbean cruise at Carnival. The prices start at $ 1,579 per person for a balcony cabin and include accommodation, all meals, a selection of non -alcoholic drinks and entertainment.

We use our Keepgo International WiFi Hotspot to help us go online while traveling. The device generates a secure WLAN connection via local 4G mobile radio networks in over 120 countries. Via this recommendation link you can get a 10% discount on any Keepgo product.

We flew to Charleston via New York, but from January 2020 there will be direct flights from Great Britain. Book via Skyscanner for the best prices.

Finally,

If you plan to snorkel in Aruba (and you should really do that), you should pack a full face snorkel mask. We use and recommend Aria QR+ from Ocean Reef.

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Mission statement: Atlas & Boots 
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