Booking choice: The morning pirate sail, from $108 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Almost every snorkel boat that leaves Palm Beach stops at the Antilla, and the morning pirate sail is no exception. It is one of the Caribbean's best-known wreck sites, popular with divers and snorkelers alike.
What you see depends on the day: on a calm morning the hull is clear from the surface; when the trade winds are up, the water is choppier than at the reef stops.
The quick answer
The SS Antilla is a 400-foot (121 m) German freighter scuttled by its own crew off Malmok, Aruba, on 10 May 1940. It lies on its side in up to 60 feet (18 m) of water, with parts close to the surface, so snorkelers see it from above. It is the deepest and most exposed stop on the morning pirate sail.
What is the Antilla shipwreck?
A German cargo ship built in Hamburg in 1939 for the Hamburg America Line, scuttled off Aruba at the start of the Second World War.
At 398 feet (121 m) and about 4,400 gross tons, it is one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean. Operators call it the island's signature wreck, and divers rate it for its size and marine life.
Why did the Antilla sink?
Its crew sank it on purpose. On 10 May 1940, when Germany invaded the Netherlands, Dutch marines moved to seize the ship, and the German crew opened the seacocks and set fires rather than hand it over.
All 35 crew were interned as enemy aliens and later taken to Jamaica, where they stayed for the rest of the war. The ship settled on its port side in Malmok Bay, where it has been ever since.
Want to see it for yourself? The morning pirate sail stops at the Antilla with gear included.
Check dates for the morning pirate sailHow deep is the Antilla wreck?
It lies in up to 60 feet (18 m) of water, with parts of the structure close to or breaking the surface.
That makes it a snorkel site you look down on rather than into: from the surface you see the outline of the hull, the coral and sponges growing on it, and the fish around it. Going inside is for certified divers only, and some divers now consider it unsafe to enter because of storm damage.
What will you see when you snorkel it?
The shape of the hull below you, corals and sponges on the steel, and schools of fish; guests also report sea turtles in the area.
Visibility is usually good on Aruba's sheltered west coast. Bring a waterproof phone pouch or action camera if you want photos, and ask the crew to point out the best section of the hull.
Is the Antilla safe for beginners?
Yes with care: it is the deepest and most exposed stop, and guests report choppy water there on some days.
Stay close to the boat, use a flotation vest if the crew offers one, and do not drink before you snorkel. If the swell looks rough, watching from the deck is fine: Boca Catalina, the calmer cove stop, is usually next. The crew advises which stops suit weaker swimmers.
Nervous in the water? Red Sail includes snorkel instruction on request and cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Explore Red Sail's half-day sailWhich tours stop at the Antilla?
Most Palm Beach snorkel sails, including the morning and afternoon pirate sails, Red Sail, Pelican, Octopus, Arusun and Delphi.
| Sail | Other stops | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning pirate sail | Malmok reef, Boca Catalina | 4 hours | $108 |
| Afternoon pirate sail | Boca Catalina | 3 hours | $89 |
| Red Sail half day | Catalina Bay and a third stop | 4 hours | $107 |
| Pelican brunch catamaran | Malmok reef, Catalina Bay | 4 hours | $85 |
| Arusun catamaran | Boca Catalina | 2.5 hours | $63 |
| Delphi catamaran | Boca Catalina | 3 hours | $69 |
Can you snorkel the Antilla from the beach?
Not sensibly: the wreck lies offshore in Malmok Bay, so it is reached by boat.
The shore sites nearby, such as Boca Catalina and Malmok, are fine from the beach, but the Antilla is a boat stop. A snorkel sail also gives you the gear, the crew and a ladder back on board.
When is the best time to snorkel the Antilla?
In the morning, when the water is usually calmer before the trade winds build.
That is one reason the morning sail rates higher than the afternoon one. See morning vs afternoon for the full comparison.
Calmer water, three stops and lunch: check dates for the morning pirate sail.
Check dates for the morning pirate sailFrequently asked questions
How long is the Antilla shipwreck?
About 398 feet (121 m), which makes it one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean.
Can you see the Antilla without diving?
Yes. Parts of the wreck sit close to the surface, so snorkelers can see its outline, the coral and the fish from above.
Where exactly is the Antilla?
In Malmok Bay, off Aruba's northwest coast, a short sail north of Palm Beach.
Ready to book
Choose your sail
Check the cancellation line: the pirate sails are non-refundable, the catamarans cancel free up to 24 hours before. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Morning Pirate Sail & Snorkel Cruise
- Four-hour sail from 9 AM, back around 1 PM
- Snorkel gear for Malmok reef, Boca Catalina and the Antilla wreck
- BBQ lunch (ribs, chicken, rice, salads, fruit) and an open bar
Red Sail Half-Day Snorkel Sail with Lunch
- Half-day catamaran sail from 9:15 AM
- Three snorkel stops, gear and instruction on request
- Morning snack, Caribbean lunch buffet and open bar
Arusun Catamaran with Two Snorkel Stops
The Antilla and Boca Catalina in 2.5 hours, snacks and open bar
