Hi everyone,

Our family is heading to Aruba for the first time on 4/14. My son and I love to snorkel. Can anyone recommend a company/tour that we should use. I saw info about De Palm tours.

Also since we are nebbies and I want to see the whole island (especially Baby Beach)...is it best to do a tour for that as well or should we rent a car? Any other recommendations would be much appreciated! We have a sixteen year old and an eleven year old. 10 more days to go.....

I snorkle everyday at Aruba. The best is Mangel Halto area but you need to know what you are doing because of the current. Wendy does some tours there that some friends told me she was great. I will try and fid her web sight for you. The name is Aqua Windies. She will take you to the very best spots. www.aquawindies.com Kent Here are 2 phone numbers also. 297 583-5669 297 562-9740

January 23rd 2009, 16th trip to Aruba

my family enjoys depalm island for snorkling, you can go for the full day or 1/2 day, price includes food and drinks and theres also a small waterpark thats lots of FUN. even for adults, you can do 1/2 day tour and baby beach with depalm tours, you can't go wrong great fish to see and feed on depalm island, counting the days till we get back in oct. enjoy your trip. ( bring lots of sunscreen )

If you decide to rent a car, you have many options. Check out Shore Diving Aruba for a bunch of information on different areas.

While we were there a couple weeks ago we snorkeled at Baby Beach and Boca Catalina. Both are easy shore entries with manageable current. (stay inside the cove at Baby Beach unless you really know what you are doing) This was my 10-yr-old son's first time snorkeling so we weren't too adventurous.

I have pictures from each location in my Aruba 2008 gallery.

Haven't done any tours so I'm afraid I can't help you there, but would be happy to answer any other specific questions you might have.

Chip
Aruba - March 2008 Gallery

Great pictures, what did camera you use for the "wet" pics?

Aruba History:
Lou: Visited on a cruise in 2005
Lou&Nay: Will visit on our honeymoon 9/2008

Thanks!

The "wet" pictures (and a few others at the beach and/or near the pool) were taken with a Vivitar ViviCam 6200W:



Several reviews available on Amazon.

I wasn't sure how well they would turn out, but the price was right so I took a chance. All-in-all I think it does a pretty good job for the money.

Vivitar actually manufacturers this same exact camera for a company called SeaLife. They re-brand it as their "ECOshot" model and market it to scuba divers at nearly twice the price, but it's the same camera.

Chip
Aruba - March 2008 Gallery

To see the island the kids especially may enjoy one of ABC's Jeep Safari Tours
http://www.abc-aruba.com/

A great way to see part of the island from the water, as well as snorkel outside the barrier island at Mangel Halto is an excursion aboard the Tranquilo http://www.tranquiloaruba.com/ We sailed with our then 10 yo dd aboard. Our Day Aboard Tranquilo

This June we are going to sail with Jolly Pirates
http://www.jolly-pirates.com/...supposed to be another HUGE hit with the kids.

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