Bonbini which means (welcome) from Aruba! A Creole based on Portuguese and pidginize Spanish and spoken in the Netherlands Antilles. Aruba is one of the most Americanized islands in the Caribbean. It's always summer here, and almost always dry, with an average temperature of 82 degrees (28 degrees Celsius). Aruba is located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, 15 miles (24.1 km) from the South American coastline. The island is 19.6 miles (31.5 km) long and six miles (9.7) across at its widest point, with a total area of 70 square miles (112.7 km). Unlike Netherland Antilles sister islands, Bonaire and Curacao, Aruba's topography and vegetation are unusual for a Caribbean island.

On the south and west coast are miles of pristine, white sandy beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the world, rimmed by calm blue sea with visibility in some areas to a depth of a hundred feet. The Northeast coast is rugged and wild. The interior is desert like, with a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations. The islands most famous trees are the Watapana or Divi-divi trees, all permanently sculpted into graceful southwest-bending shapes by the constant trade winds. Our hosts on this Dive Travel adventure are Jads Dive Center, Mill Resort and Suites and the Brickell Bay Beach Club Hotel.

We arrive in the capitol city of Oranjestad during their annual carnival celebration, and the island is filled with lengthy parades with thousands of islanders dressed in colorful costumes. We came here to dive the many wrecks found just off shore around the island. Aruba is recently becoming known more for wreck diving since having far more wrecks than its sister islands, but the reefs and marine life are spectacular as well.

Wrecks like the historical California at a depth of 30'-45' (9.1-14 meters) the ship that received, but failed to respond to the S.O.S. signals sent by the Titanic. The Antilla Wreck at a depth of 60' (18.3 meters) referred to as the ghost ship a German freighter that was scuttled by the Germans in 1945. The Antilla is the largest wreck in the Caribbean (400' long) and was sunk when it was brand new. The wreck is excellent for penetrations because of its large compartments. Covered by giant tube sponges and coral formations, the Antilla is surrounded by lobsters and many kinds of tropical fish (mainly angel fish and yellow tails). It is a great place for night diving just to name two.

Arashi Reef at 35'-40' (10.7-14 meters) is a fascinating reef for novice divers.An abundance of brain coral, huge star corals, and sea fans are surrounded by parrot and angel fish or Maimok Reef at a depth of 70' (21.3 meters) has Paths of wildly spread leaf and brain corals abound at this bottom reef. Malmok is noted for its huge lobsters as well as for the unusual number of sting rays that take their daily siesta here, just waiting to be photographed. Giant barrel sponges--purple, orange, and green--cover the area.