Adventure travel is something that I write about extensively, particularly in Southeast Asia, like caving in Vietnam, a dive liveaboard in the Maldives, or cycling the mountains of Laos. However, adventure wasn’t what I expected to find in Aruba when booking a trip to this arid Caribbean island. Lucky for me (and you!), the team at Seabob Aruba definitely delivered the unexpected – one of the most thrilling underwater experiences I’ve ever had. Bar none.
What on Earth is a Seabob?
What’s a “Seabob” you ask? I assure you it’s one of the coolest half-day tours any active traveller is going to encounter in all of the Caribbean. I kid you not, this is the stuff GoPros were invented for. But technically speaking, a Seabob is an eco-friendly personal propulsion vehicle capable of moving swimmers, snorkelers and divers through the water with ease. The batteries of the unit produce a pollution free electric stream of power capable of moving you up to 22 miles per hour, a speed that is fast enough to rip the swimwear off your body pretty quickly. Thankfully Seabob Aruba provides complementary wetsuits specifically to avoid this.
The machines can take you to a depth of up to 40 meters for up close and personal encounters with ocean life that an average snorkeler can only dream of. One wears a snorkel mask but not the snorkel pipe itself while riding – unless you’re using them for actual scuba diving in which case you’d have all of your regular gear on. While you’re bound by your lung capacity to surface every once in a while, the Seabob does all the hard work of moving you up, down and around. Basically, you conserve energy and get to your destination much faster thanks to these brightly colored magic machines.
What is a Seabob Aruba tour really like?
My half-day Seabob Aruba experience begins with a pick up from one of the team’s four members, with a trailer of about six Seabob machines in tow. Bob (that’s his real name, quite fitting I know), has been with the business for years, and though his casual demeanour and flip flops may suggest otherwise, he really knows his stuff.
With Bob leading the way, we take a quick drive up to Boca Catalina beach along the north west shore. Group sizes are capped at around six to eight people. On this particular day, no one else had booked so my friend and I have a private tour and no need to make any other stops along the route. Perfect!
Once at Boca Catalina, a safety demonstration is delivered and you gear up with the provided snorkel masks and wetsuits. Then within minutes, you’re wading into the water on a Seabob under the watchful eye of Leo, our guide for the water portion of the day.
As an avid diver I was eager to test the limits of the machine. My travel companion was a bit more apprehensive. The Seabob Aruba crew happily adjust each machine to the depth and speed limits that make sense for each user.
Then we’re off, cruising along the surface of the water enjoying the view of the island behind us. As confidence grows so do our dives and barrel rolls under the water. The machine is surprising easy to steer, simply lean your body in the direction you want to go and it responds. Speed is controlled with dual paddles along the handles of the unit, and a speedometer and depth gauge are clear to read while ‘driving’. While scuba diving, I do tend to descend quite slowly to manage ear pressure. While maneuvering a seabob it’s very easy (a bit unnerving in fact) to descend quickly if you so choose. My ears capped my depth to around five meters, while Leo effortlessly plunged much lower, capturing some great photos for us.
That brings me to the photos, which for some travellers is the most important part. Your guide will capture as many videos and photos before, after and during the tour as you’d like. Since they do trips several times a week, these folks are pros at getting the perfect angles for epic shots. These professional photos are included in the price of the tour.
It’s highly recommended you leave your own GoPro at home, as it’s near impossible to maneuver the Seabob with both hands and hold on to a camera. Trust me, I tried. There are camera mounts on the machines themselves if you’re a diehard photographer. Whether the camera is on you or not, you’re sure to feel like James Bond whizzing around the water, getting close to the shallow reefs and even circling above the massive shipwreck Antilla. In real life I realize I may not have actually looked like a suave action star as opposed to a maniacal creature of the sea, but the photos are pretty impressive nonetheless.
Highlights
Highlights of your Seabob Aruba tour may include getting up close and personal with star fish or sea urchins (that your guide will happily identify and retrieve for you). You’ll also immerse yourself in small schools of reef fish. We did spot a small turtle, and were told that multiple sightings are quite common (particularly during morning tours versus afternoon).
Exploring around the Antilla wreck itself is definitely the main attraction. While hoards of other snorkel companies are nearby for the same purpose, the Seabob literally allows you to break free from the crowds and go deeper towards the ship itself. The lung capacity of the average person means you’re not quite able to swim through the various port holes and openings of the wreck (as divers do), but it’s still an incredible experience.
The Verdict
A tour with Seabob Aruba is a great way to explore the water beyond traditional snorkelling and is certainly memorable. If you’re shy in the water it can still be an enjoyable experience, and these professionals ensure guests of all skill levels have fun. However, in my opinion you likely won’t get the full value out of your tour unless you’re willing to try underwater flips and really dive deep. A half day tour (lasts 2.5 hours, with about 1.5 hours of actual time in the water) costs $140 USD per person. Discounts are available for groups of three or more. It’s not cheap, but then again the most memorable travel experiences are often worth the splurge.
Looking for more action above the water? The Seabob Aruba team also runs Arubiana offering ATV and buggy rentals. Though we didn’t book with Arubiana ourselves, if the service and excitement we experienced with Seabob Aruba is any indication, you’ll be in good hands with Arubiana as well.
Photos courtesy of Madeline Burch, Seabob Aruba and Aruba Tourism Authority.
Make your next trip the best one.
Departful is a full service travel agency creating truly exceptional travel experiences that are 100% personalized to you. Wherever you’re going, whatever your interests, we help you plan the perfect trip.
