Pirates and fishing and dirt Oh my!

Scuba: I am going to defer to my husband for this category. He and the kids got their PADI certifications while there with Happy Divers. The guide was great and no nonsense, so I am including the site, but don't ask me much about it because I had this boot on my foot that prevented flippers. https://happydiversaruba.com/

Deep sea vs. Bottom fishing

The diversity of fishing rigs and variety of items to catch is great in the southern Caribbean. Migration patterns of wahoo, tuna, mahi, kingfish, and more influence the best times to attempt a special catch so asking the guides about what to expect for the dates is helpful. Some of the migration patterns have changed with climate change as well, pushing back migration to warmer waters for fish like Wahoo.

But, when you have healing surgical sites, any dang fish will do quite frankly. So the family went under the sea, I went over.

Melina Charters

If you love fishing and want to go with the best captains, it is best to ask around amongst locals. Trip advisor and Yelp and even the pay ones like Viator really don't have the on the ground local information. With as much as I spend on a good day at sea, I want to know that I am with a trusted group of fisherpeople that aren't big corporation owned (personal preference). Melina Charters headed by Captain Peter was one of these recommended places. They offer deep sea and bottom fishing near shipwrecks in 1/2 or full days at very reasonable rates. This gets you a captain and mate, lots of bait, soft drinks, and the option to filet and transport your catch directly to you or to the dock restaurant for dinner or lunch for $15/pp. Best deal for whole snapper on the island if you ask me.

Deep sea fishing is meant for trawling for the big fish: wahoo, kingfish, mahi, and the like. You get off shore several miles at times and tempt the fish with live bait, jigs, handfuls of fish-gut lined sand, the whole gammut. We had a beautiful morning fish catching grouper, kingfish, trigger fish, puffers, barracuda, and a remura even.

There are lots of ship wrecks and even plane wrecks around the coast and this plus significant shore dropoffs in points makes for good jigging and bottom bait. This means grouper, yellowtail, squirrel fish, trigger fish, and more! The variety is really fun especially for the kids and reeling in a slightly smaller fish keeps them from getting pulled overboard. If you have a half day at least to spare, hit up Melina and they make sure you have a great time.

UTV Tours!

I would not have known this prior, but there are 100 outfitters for UTV/ATV tours and rentals around this small island. The windward side is rugged and perfect terrain for off roading and adventure, but how do you choose the company? Well, I can't totally tell you that, but we were recommended to one that starts at an animal farm where you feed donkeys and goats while your vehicle is getting ready. https://www.philipsanimalgarden.com/

Tours can be booked via: aroundaruba.com and vary by what kind of vehicle. The sites may vary day to day based on weather conditions but we saw high and low desert, some really rocky fun terrain, cliffs, natural pools, and a creepy old gold mine site that was closed after only 6 years because the sea breeze + HCN chemical wash was killing all the workers. Only so much one will do for gold right?

Baby BeaCh/Arashi beach/boca catalina/mangel halto

Not everyone wants to be on a crowded resort beach, and I am one of those people. I will not fight someone for a lounge chair...that is just dumb. So off we went to visit some of the more local beach options over Eagle and Palm beaches.

Baby beach is just nifty: weird snack and bar shack, gorgeous beach with a constant breeze and crystal clear snorkeling. Again, no snorkeling for me but I 'heard' it was diverse fish, trumpet fish, eels etc. just off the sand a bit. The weathered trees make for great shade without having to bribe a waiter to hold your spot as well. Mangel Halto, similarly is good for shallow dives and snorkle but will defer to the uninjured people for that account. Arashi beach is hippy central. A snack shack with good fried polenta and the best grouper ceviche, people bring their chairs or swing on the bar swings while watching the waves. Turtle watching is also popular in this northern beach if you still have your snorkle interest after a strong margarita. Map included below.

under the sea: the submarine ride

Quasi submarine rides have gained popularity all over coastal vacation destinations but what about a REAL submarine that goes down 150ft to land under a reef on the sea floor? Well, that was too tempting to not find out. After a week of activities, I do admit that the kids had no interest in this, but I also had no interest in watching them play 8 hours of fortnite on a beautiful tropical day either. Want to play video games and we can save all the $ on flights, lodging, and some rather pricy tours next time.

As an aside Gen Xers: can you imagine telling your parents you didn't want to go on a submarine ride in the tropics because some new video game version watch party was happening that day? I fear for our future...but anyway.

The Atlantis submarine experience holds 48 passengers and can dive to depths of 150ft. You are able to see several shipwrecks including a WWII wreck as well as a large variety of parrotfish, trumpets, lionfish, and schools of all sorts. That in the freaky ambiance of a pill shaped capsule. Totally worth the $ in my opinion. Not good if claustrophobic however.