The Antilla

The Antilla was a German cargo ship of around one hundred and thirty metres that had been sheltering in Aruban waters when the Netherlands entered the war in 1940; ordered to surrender by the Dutch authorities, her captain scuttled her instead, and she settled on her side in shallow water off Malmok where she has been ever since. She is one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean and unusually accessible: the hull lies between five and eighteen metres, with parts breaking the surface, so snorkellers see a good deal of her and divers can work the whole thing. Coral and sponge have covered the plates.

The landscape

• The size - around a hundred and thirty metres of hull on the seabed.
• The shallow sections - parts within snorkelling depth near the surface.
• The coral growth - eight decades of colonisation on the plates.
• The compartments - open holds and passages for divers.

When to go

Year-round; Aruba's water is calm on the leeward side almost always. Mornings have the best visibility and the fewest boats. Catamaran snorkel trips and dive boats both run to her daily.

What to expect

Snorkel trips see the shallow superstructure only; the interesting parts are for divers. She is deteriorating and sections have collapsed, so penetration should be treated as overhead environment with real hazards. Boats crowd the site in the middle of the day. Visibility varies with wind.

Nearby

Malmok and Boca Catalina are inshore; Palm Beach is ten minutes south.