Aruba 2022 - Day 5: Easy Snorkeling, Boca Catalina, Fireworks

This morning, we ventured out for official Covid tests (all negative, btw) after breakfast, followed by a stop at The Colorado Shack for smoothies, second breakfast, and later-lunch food.

We felt that that effort deserved a reward, so we went back to the chalet and lazed around for a while, debating how to spend our last full day on the island.

There was some expressed interest in trying a new beach, but there are so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide. We had seen the ones near the condo, and the east coast beaches aren't for swimming/snorkeling, so we decided to head up the coast.

The next beach past Mangel Halto is adjacent to the airport, and the next few after that are huge, but also in the resort hotel district, north of Oranjestad. (Eagle beach and Palm beach)

About 15 or 20 minutes past where we had dinner last night, there are a few smaller beaches (Malmok, Boca Catalina, and Arashi), two of which turned up on snorkeling websites. Boca Catalina had been recommended by the guys at Aruba Bob's and again by Coco when we saw him at Mangel Halto, so we decided to head there for the afternoon.

Rather than drive up the highway, through Oranjestad, again, we took an inland route that was only about 5 minutes slower. Along the way, we stopped at a random fruit store. We were definitely the only tourists there.

 

Communication was tricky, but we were able to have a conversation about many of the unlabeled and unknown (to us) fruits in a mix of English and (mostly) Spanish. They were happy to show us everything (predominantly from Colombia), and this guy excitedly insisted that we try a few of the stranger ones. He also suggested that about half of them were good with milk and/or honey.

Some of them we'd never heard of, even when translated to English. (Even now, with google and Wikipedia, I've still never heard of it.)

As with everywhere else we've been, they were happy to take US dollars (at a rate of about 1.75 AWG to USD). I don't think I mentioned yet that their local currency is the Aruban Florin, which we've only received as change (coins). Some of them are square (well, rounded squares anyway).

Anyway, we eventually made it to Boca Catalina, some time around 2 PM.

There was a lovely, roped-off swimming/snorkeling area, and a few boats moored farther out. There were absolutely no waves, and minimal current. In short, they were ideal snorkeling conditions: no danger of being dashed against a reef, good visibility, and just a few gentle swells.

After getting situated, we immediately checked out the underwater situation. A fellow enthusiast on the beach had given us a brief overview of what was where, which was very helpful.

(I retouched most of these photos to correct the whitepoint, where possible-and-easy. It is obvious which ones I left original.)

According to the handy fish identification guide, I think this is a French angelfish.

Over the last few days, we've seen old anchors, pipes, the occasional beer bottle, car tires (and a rim), but the back end of a forklift is by far the strangest for this trip.

We think this is a Triggerfish, which (fun fact) allegedly have been known to bite divers.

This looks like a Hawksbill sea turtle, snacking on sea grass.

We took turns going in for a closer look; the turtle was mostly unconcerned.

It's difficult to estimate, but my guess would be that this turtle was about three feet long. Later, we saw a smaller one, coming up for air and then returning to its seafloor meal.

While I was out on my own, I spotted a few strange fish that I hadn't seen anywhere else, slowing roaming along the bottom. I watched them for a while, and noticed that if I dove down for a closer look, one of them performed a show. The internet leads me to believe that these are Flying Gurnards.

On the other side of the roped area, there were some rocks and bits of reef hosting thousands of small fish. The Sergeant Majors are rather distinctive, and also plentiful.

Once I saw snorkelers feeding them, it made sense why they were not afraid of me, and even occasionally approached me.

A few times, I found myself in the middle of a large school of tiny fish. They just sort of... parted, like a curtain, as I swam through them.

Here's an example of one that came right up to me. It was only about the size of my hand.

This might be an Atlantic Blue Tang? I'm not sure.

Indisputably a Smooth trunkfish.

Swarms of little fish, everywhere.

Bluehead, for obvious reasons.

No idea, on this one. It was distinctly blue, though.

This was a huge school, mostly of Blue Tang I think?

After a solid hour or two in the water, I retreated to the beach for a snack and a book. Matt was going back out again as I was coming in; we crossed paths in the water. Sabrina and Diet had had enough of our shenanigans, and spent most of the time relaxing.

We saw a few groups departing and returning from a snorkel trip out to the Antilla Wreck, over the course of several hours. 

It was after 5 PM by the time we left, heading south along the coast, through the busy resort area. Along the way, we got a glimpse of Palm beach and Eagle beach, as well as the Butterfly farm.

Leftovers from lunch (from The Colorado Shack) became dinner, but I hadn't gotten a bowl there, so we stopped at La Granja (drivethru) by the condo for some chicken.

As we returned to the chalet, we noticed there was a party (wedding?) at one of the fancy houses, over by Floyd's house. After dinner, as we were dealing with travel administrivia, we heard fireworks outside, so we all rushed out to the seawall to enjoy the show.

Tomorrow, we have to check out, return the snorkel gear, get gas, return the rental car, deal with airport nonsense, deal with US customs, and then we can fly home in the afternoon.