De Palm Slope

This is a pristine area with great shorediving and plenty of facilities. Take a trip over to check it out first, if you like. You can see the small ferry approaching the island. The trip makes for a nice morning or afternoon dive.

They coolest thing is their family of blue parrotfish and rainbow parrotfish. They are well chummed, and swarm around snorkelers. They were bigger that anywhere else we saw them. Deep blue trumpetfish, a sand diver, trunkfish, four eyed butterflyfish, big blue angels, banded butterflyfish, french grunts, tobacco fish, gar, and some urchins. They have snorkeling tours, which were not run the day we were there, and SNUBA, which Mark was not allowed to do. And helmet diving (which we were not interested in doing). Drinks are weak, but free.

As of August 2011, you must pay De Palm Island either $99 for a full day package or $89 for a half day package that includes snorkeling gear, a ride to and from the Island, drinks and all of the CRAPPY food you can eat. I would not recommend spending money to go to this snorkel site. I am surprised that people still go there. We did see big blue parrot fish and some barracuda. However, I felt that the reef was 'dirty' and damaged. It was NOT worth the $99. My suggestion, go to Mangel Halto down the road.

My girlfriend and I are beginning snorkelers (one week ago was her first snorkel, and my third). We spent most of the last week snorkeling different sites around Aruba, and just tried DePalm today, our last day on the island. We absolutely loved DePalm. There were some massive parrotfish in the shallows, and plenty else to see. The water clarity, topography, and diversity and size of fish were the best of anywhere we have been. The number of other snorkelers and shallow water close to shore made us feel very comfortable in the water. Additionally, the staff was great and one of the nice snorkeling guides took us out past the reef into deeper waters (as deep as 50-60 feet, with great visibility), where we saw two groupers fighting over a small eel, and then a very large green moray eel (~5-6' long). This was by far our best snorkeling experience in Aruba and we will definitely be back.

Curiously intriguing and surprising……yet comfortable surroundings. I suggest binoculars.

Best shore snorkel in Aruba .. No questions asked. It will cost you $50 to do the all day all inclusive trip but well worth it. Tons of giant parrot fish, I also saw lots of trumpet fish, a barracuda, and I was able to swim with and photo a beautiful Hawkbill Sea Turtle. The staff was excellent here and the food and drinks were very good. Good visibility , the reefs here were virtually unaffected by Hurricane Ivan last fall.

I snorkel, so my evaluation is based on that. The site is great for diving. My complaint is that they over charge for the trip there. You used to be able to just pay the ferry ride over. Now, they make you pay 50 bucks to get there, they give you crappy food, and the next thing you know, it's time to go. I love the site for the snorkel, but the price is a turn off.

Best snorkel spot in Aruba. No cheap ferry-- you must buy a snorkel package for 50. Well worth it as you walk into the water from stairs (from the bar). Blue parrot fish, sea turtles, and crab are common. The coral close to the access point is not great. Best to swim out past the pink buoy to 20+ feet of water where you will find a "healthier coral" and turtles. Go with a group as the waves will toss you around this far out and you must pass over a shallow coral wall to get to the deep stuff.

There are large groups of enormous blue parrot fish and all kinds of other parrot fish as soon as you enter the water. They are fed so all the varieties are over-sized. Shallow reefs can be hazardous but deeper water near the buoys. Also saw octopi, peacock flounder, gold-tail eels, trumpets, hogfish. Bought an all-day snorkel package which was well worth it. It included transportation from resort, ferry to island, lunch, open bar, showers, equipment, easy entry from dock. DePalm owns the island and facilities and also offers snuba and sea trek with helmets for beginners.

For beginner and intermediate snorkelers, wives, kids, this is a little like floating in an aquarium. You have to pay to go over for a half or full day, including food, deck chairs, showers, and stairs into the water, but it is worth it. DePalm feeds the fish, so you will find tons of large Parrot Fish and many others right. Go out to the right, past the buoys and snorkel along the slope.