The main reason we decided to spend a day on De Palm Island is snorkeling. This unique coral island is the only place in Aruba, where you can swim with the Blue Parrotfish, native only to this area. De Palm Island is an all inclusive private island own by the De Palm Tour Company. There are numerous activities included in the ticket, but we added the Sea Trek tour for an additional fee. It was a beautiful day in Aruba like almost every other day and the island wasn’t crowded at all. Below is a picture of the cute little beach on the island.
The ferry ride took about 7 minutes to deliver us to the island from Port De Palm on Aruba island. Once on De Palm Island, we were given wristbands and a brief tour of the facility. The dining options included breakfast & lunch buffet, open bar and snack corner. First thing first, we started our day with a breakfast in the buffet.
The island features a beach area with complimentary chairs and umbrellas, water park and volleyball courts. Admission includes human foosball, banana boat rides, salsa lessons, snorkeling, zip lining, air jumping adventures and more. For additional fees, visitors can try SeaTrek Underwater Helmet Walk, SNUBA, and Power Snorkel.
Spa treatments are offered right on the beach, including couple’s and single’s massage, hair braiding and temporary tattoos (for an additional charge).
We explored the island a little and visited the Gift Shop. We bought special fish food there for the snorkeling at Baby Beach the next day. Should have bought more, the fish went absolutely crazy for it.
It is small, but a very cute, clean and nicely decorated island. Since the island is private, the amount of people on the excursion is limited, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
There was no line to the Banana Boat ride, so we decided to use this opportunity. There are no pictures of us, but we took some pictures of other Banana Boat riders. The ride starts from this dock below. Everyone must wear a life jacket.
The ride starts with a decent speed.
But then the speed drastically increases and the crew makes sure that everyone ends up in the water eventually. It was so much fun!
Then, we went to the Sea Trek desk to confirm our schedule with the Sea Trek Underwater Helmet Walk. Our time was 11 A.M., so we had to wait at this time at a designated place for our instructors. Here, we were instructed to wear specially designed diving helmets and walk along a 375 ft. custom walkway, 20 ft. below the surface. The helmets allowed us to breathe completely normally and to keep our heads dry while walking on the ocean floor. We saw so many colorful tropical fish during our 45-minute underwater walk. Then, we went inside of a sunken bus at the underwater Sea Trek Café and posed for a photograph.
The instructor gave me to hold this creature of the deep: Sea Spider, which was cool.
We also held the Sea Urchins (sea hedgehogs).
And conchs.
Next, we left the bus for game time.
We were supposed to throw and catch some objects. It was cool!
After lunch we went snorkeling. This is the entrance to the snorkeling area. Here, we were provided the snorkel gear, as well as instructions. Snorkeling with the stunning Blue Parrotfish and other sea life was definitely a highlight.
De Palm island is home to hundreds of Blue Parrotfish. We snorkeled and just loved seeing the Blue Parrotfish and many others. We only needed to go in off the stairs and the fish were all around us. The water around the island is so very blue. Snorkeling is offered in both waist-high and deeper waters. Complimentary snorkel tours of the reef are offered twice daily.
De Palm Island is a coral island which makes it one of the best snorkel spots on Aruba but also means sharp rocks can be found in the water and at the beach. We brought our water shoes, which were helpful. Also, the Gift Shop on the island sells them as well.
Snorkeling. Dave is caught on a camera.
Blue Parrotfish. Isn’t this fish beautiful? Snorkeling is one of the main activities on the island, as many of Aruba’s many species of fish exist here, including the Blue parrotfish. It is forbidden to fish or remove any wild animals from the island. Due to this strict rule, the fish that swim in the shallows are used to the presence of people, and are not easily scared by human activity.
More of Blue Parrotfish.
There was not only Blue Parrotfish. This one looks beautiful too.
Fish here is used to be feed, so they are not afraid of people at all.
We also enjoyed some time in the shallow beach lagoon before having lunch. There were a couple barriers indicating for safe zone for swimming. The beach area extends a short distance into the ocean. It is forbidden to go far out from the beach, to protect both visitors and sea life.
The lodges and umbrellas were everywhere. Beach chairs and palapas for shade were included, but it was required to bring own towels.
Blue Parrotfish Water Park has six water-slides and a little pool. The slide rides were available too. The slides look like they are more for the kids, so we didn’t bother to try them.
Periodically, the bucket on the top will dump water on everyone underneath it. Dave just caught the moment of release.
I had to take a picture of this cute shower with the Balashi Beer bucket as a shower head. It works though. 🙂
Around 5 P.M. we left this cute little island (picture is from the web).
This ferry is ready to take us back to Aruba island.
Almost there. The Aruba’s shore is very close. What a nice day we had on De Palm Island!
