Cabez Reef

In good conditions, the entry is shallow and easy. You can walk out a distance before putting on your fins. Parking is at the end of the Southern most road, just under the Ceroe Colorado Lighthouse. You may park right next to your entry.

Dove this site with JADS July 8th. Absolutely the best dive in Aruba by far. More fish, coral, and sea life in one dive than you'll get anywhere else in Aruba with combined dives. This dive should only be attempted by advanced ocean divers. The currents are no joke. Stick with JADS for all your dives on Aruba, you cant go wrong! Most of their DM are local who know how to read the conditions and get you through the dive successfully while still maximizing your enjoyment.

Cabez Reef is the holy grail of Aruban (shore) diving. Diving conditions are usually difficult because of the location of this dive site at the Southernmost tip of the Island. Currents are usually strong and at times simply brutal. At those times when the currents are very strong, divers get the exhilarating feeling of flying at high speeds over the reef. Entry is either at the South side of the island (also the exit point), over slippery rocks and through a heavy surf zone or off of a 15 feet cliff at the Eastern side of the island. The leap off of the cliff can be seen on this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sr9WVxkdx0. The leap off of the cliff makes for an easier dive as you drift with the current for most of the dive as opposed to fighting the current to get to the reef and then drifting back. The downside of the leap is the inherent danger such a leap poses and the fact that divers have no reasonable way to exit the water, should the current be pushing the wrong way i.e. pushing North instead of South. Make no mistake about it, this dive site has all the ingredients for disaster. That's why only strong divers should attempt this dive, and they should only do so under the guidance of an experienced Cabez Reef guide. As far as I know, JADS at Baby Beach is the only dive operator with extensive experience diving Cabez Reef (Jair is the undisputed King of Cabez). The reef itself is like nothing I've seen elsewhere. The reef is in pristine condition, lies at a depth of about 70/80 feet and is for the most part comprised of a lot of soft corals and sponges, growing on a rocky substrate. Esthetically this reef equals or surpasses anything I've seen in Bonaire. This reef is also known for the shark cave, where Nurse Sharks are often found resting. Eagle Rays are also often spotted here in large numbers (I can confirm a school of 9) as are (lone) Manta Rays a few times a year. All of this makes for a truly spectacular dive. The cuts, scrapes and bruises you sustain from the entry and exit, are quickly forgotten.

I just dove this site this morning with my colleagues Rudy (OWSI) and Sue (Dive master). After diving Bonaire, Curacao, Dominica, St Thomas and Lots of Aruba, I must say, this is the most beautiful dive in my life so far. LOTS and LOTS of soft coral to start with. Big forests of Elkhorn Coral, mixed with other varieties of coral after that. Goliath Groupers, Nurse and hammerhead sharks, Jack Groupers, etc. Too much to mention. Entry point is very rocky, and the surf won't help. We used pretty strong and powerful underwater scooters, to get us around the Cabez point (the eastern point of Aruba), but the dive was just amazing. --Walter from JadsAruba.com

I just thought I'd write about this site as a warning to others. If you haven't dived this one before, make sure you take a local with you. I did and I am glad I did! Very beautiful dive, but can be scary if you don’t know what you're doing. Lots of fish, and the scenery is spectacular. Enjoy!

I lived in Aruba for 20 years and grew up very close to this reef. We used it as an exit point from swimming around Colorado Point, and as an entry point to drift dive and come in behind the Esso Club.

I was born and raised in Aruba and we always called this area the Fourth Lagoon. Lots of fish activity with beautiful drop off and strong currents coming from around the point of land to the left.