Diving in Aruba - Need Advice

[adamk22]

I'm heading down on the 11th. I was hoping to get some input from people who have already been down there. Any info would be helpful, i.e. dive spots or dive operators.

Also, any suggestions on the night life are also welcome.

Thanks

[Gary Majchrzak]

Although I didn't dive, I found some good snorkling areas on my own. One of the best was at 'Baby Beach'. I didn't make it out the channel to where the Acropora palmata was growing, though I did see lots of fish there.
I found lots of cool surf-pounded channels on the uncrowded Eastern side of the island. Small Damselfish and Blennies were in the 'puddles', which resembled pristine miniature reef aquaria there. Even the ocean outside our hotel on 'the strip' was loaded with cool fish {Queen Triggers, Eels, French Angelfish and Barracuda} along with other strange things. {My wedding band is down there!}
I'm not a gambler, but the casino could have easily gotten me hooked, and we walked to it at night- Aruba is a relatively 'safe' island.
The hike up Mt. Hovenburg {sp?} was full of cactus, lizards, scorpions and other critters I like. Fantastic view! The people were friendly, the food was good {except I avoided goat milk foodstuff!} and I had a great time. If you rent a jeep, make sure to get a top on it so you don't bake your scalp!

[adamk22]

Thanks Gary. I'll let you know if I find your wedding band. I plan to travel the island by mountain bike -- I understand that the whole island is 8x5 miles. But I didn't know that there was in fact any elevation - I thought it was a relatively flat island. I guess I'll wait and see.

Thanks again for the input.

[something clever]

I didn't dive either, but did snorkle at baby beach and in front of our hotel. Got some really cool pictures of some amazing fish. At baby beach, right at the mouth of the channel there are enormous and hungry fish. I honestly felt nervous swimming amidst a feeding frenzy (brought on by other snorklers feeding) of 12" plus assorted aggressive fish!

One thing we did was go down in a submarine. It was a little pricey, and turist packed, but was really unforgettable. They took us down around some reefs and to a shipwreck. I have a picture out the window of an angelfish about a foot and a half around.

took a bus tour around the island, ( lasted 1/2 day! small island)which I would totally recommend because I learned way more about the every day life on the island from our tour guide than I would have just roaming around by myself.

I'm jealous, wish I could go again!

[adamk22]

How about the Casinos? I'm a Blackjack player, and I was wondering if anyone can recommend a Casino or two. I'm looking for one that has a lot of BJ tables, or just the biggest Casinos in general. If it works out nicely, my tank will see majority of the winnings.

Wish me luck!

[bayondai]

I am not sure of the names of the places that I played blackjack in Aruba, but they played weird. They would deal out the cards but only give themselves one card, after going through everyone to see if they would hit or stay, then they would deal themselves the second card. After all of that they could pull a blackjack and let me tell you that sucks after all that time. I am not sure if they play that way in all of the casinos but the two I played in they did.

I scuba dived for my first time in Aruba. I think the place was called Pelican sports or something like that. Everyone cancelled at the last minute so it was just me and the dive instructor. Nothing like have personal training for your first time, accidentally that is. They brought me to the wreck and it was pretty cool. I saw a huge morey eel, an octopus and a ton of schooling fish. I loved Aruba and would love to go there again. Have fun.

:D

[adamk22]

That BJ rule is rediculous. I hear that you also can't double down after a split - what are they trying to take my money? (joke). Anyway, do you remember if the casinos you went to were in Oranjestad, or were they along the strip of hotels on Palm Beach?

[bayondai]

One was in the middle of town inland and the other was by a resort called the tamerin sp? it was the only on in that area.