Malmok Reef
Malmok Reef
4.5
About
A great dive, not just because of the Debbie II wreck but because of ample brain coral and schools of barracuda patrolling the area.
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4.5
246 reviews
Excellent
145
Very good
76
Average
22
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Ashley
Cleveland, OH17 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We went here after snorkeling at Tres Trapi (2 min walk up the road). We actually liked this better - you can walk in from a beach vs. the rough steps, the waves were a little more calm and not as many people. Really nice beach to chill out too.
Written 5 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gerlat
Philadelphia, PA13 contributions
June 2014 • Family
As you drive up towards the Calif lighthouse before you come to Arashi Beach you'll notice a jagged coastline with small coves and little beaches in between the rocks. This is THE place to stop and jump in with your snorkel gear and have a look. Just a few feet into the pristine water and you wil be surrounded by fish of all types. Swim up along the rocks or straight out to the reef for some excellent, effortless snorkeling fun. The water is pristine and if you bring some bread or bananas to feed the fish yo will be swarmed by hundreds of them. This is a great spot. You will notice the boats filled with snorkelers anchored off shore. Thats the spot. Dive in man. Its good stuff.
Written 5 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jlt10
Virginia, USA12 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
We made two snorkeling trips here. Right off the main road and not too crowded. Walk right into the water off the sandy spot with your snorkeling gear, and within 5-10 feet off the beach, you'll be immersed in schools of small to medium sized fish. You don't realize how much are swimming around you until you dip your mask below the surface. We only went about 100 feet off the beach, but had we been more adventurous, we could've gone a lot further out.
Written 16 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa
Cochrane, Canada113 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Maybe I am just spoiled from the great scuba diving in Bonaire but my husband and I did a shore dive here and were quite disappointed. We were told by the dive company it was a 25 foot dive. Max to the sandy bottom was 14 feet. There were a few schools of juvenile fish here but mostly sand to look at. There was a lot of surge on the day we went. Although the area looked good from the land, it wasn't worth the money we spent to dive there.
Written 10 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie M
Chiang Mai, Thailand578 contributions
June 2018 • Couples
We have been coming to Aruba since 1972! From 1990 to 2018 we have visited two weeks at a time 25 times! Aruba is our very favorite island! We love its people, the Latin American and Filipino service staff, and, of course, the lovely beaches.
Over the past ten years, fewer and fewer species of fish are seen while snorkeling Malmok and Catalina. In the 90s, we could identify nearly every fish on the coral reef chart! Now there are fewer species and fewer numbers. We used to have snorkel experiences that rivalled Grand Cayman, but no more.
The corals, sea fans, and fish just are gone. DePalm Island still has fish and some other sites, but Malmok has less and this is truly sad. I used to see lobsters in the early morning...no more. Squid are fewer. Sea urchins are still there indicating clean water so it is not due to pollution that fish are fewer. The days of waters teeming with fish are gone now.
Over the past ten years, fewer and fewer species of fish are seen while snorkeling Malmok and Catalina. In the 90s, we could identify nearly every fish on the coral reef chart! Now there are fewer species and fewer numbers. We used to have snorkel experiences that rivalled Grand Cayman, but no more.
The corals, sea fans, and fish just are gone. DePalm Island still has fish and some other sites, but Malmok has less and this is truly sad. I used to see lobsters in the early morning...no more. Squid are fewer. Sea urchins are still there indicating clean water so it is not due to pollution that fish are fewer. The days of waters teeming with fish are gone now.
Written 16 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arrin F
Freeland, MI138 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
Really good spot for snorkeling and its a cab/bus ride away. Saw about 50 starfish just past the buoys. Lots of fish closer to shore. Take a few crackers and break in the water and the fish will swarm you. No food or drinks around so bring with you as well as a working phone or you'll have to watch the road for a cab which may not come often. Bus comes pretty regular though.
Written 28 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessi B
McHenry, IL126 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
I may just be a snorkel snob now having gone in Bora Bora, the Bahamas, and Grand Cayman...but my husband and I walked from the Marriott Stellaris in the early afternoon. We had already gone on a snorkel tour with Jolly Pirates and just wanted to try to find a sea turtle. There were only a few others there who walked or drove to snorkel at this spot.
Many people, like us, just went in for 10 minutes and then left. There were quite a few sergeant majors and a few other typical Caribbean varieties of fish but there was not much to see. We did see one starfish but those are all over the place in Aruba. There is a small, rocky beach entrance and really not much of a reef. The water clarity was ok around noon, but I would try in the morning for better clarity.
Many people, like us, just went in for 10 minutes and then left. There were quite a few sergeant majors and a few other typical Caribbean varieties of fish but there was not much to see. We did see one starfish but those are all over the place in Aruba. There is a small, rocky beach entrance and really not much of a reef. The water clarity was ok around noon, but I would try in the morning for better clarity.
Written 2 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joey
21 contributions
July 2019
Make sure to rent a car and explore the island. Lots of gems for swimming and snorkelling away from the masses. It’s rocky but lots to see and not too crowded
Written 23 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Stoddard
Dallas, TX165 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
The reef of Malmok is longer than the beach. It starts shortly after the visible shipwreck and extends all the way nearly to Boca Catalina with little inlets every few hundred feet or so. The reef for the most part is very rocky, not a lot of beach spots to lay in the sand with limited access to the ocean minus jumping off the 5 foot cliff into the water (getting up is another story).
There are a few sitting spots you can park a car and sit under a cabana for a great view. The Sunsets here are fantastic but come early if you are planning to sit and watch the sun go down.
Snorkeling is good but in my opinion not the best (Arashi is best followed by Boca Catalina then Malmok). The reef is long and pretty deep. There is limited beach access so if you snorkel along the reef expect to be in the water for awhile. On especially windy days, the water can be pretty choppy so moderately experienced swimmers can get close to the reef on those days. Most of the time the water is calm.
There are plenty of rocky parts where you can see fish, squid and a turtle or two (they are usually at Boca way out from the beach). There are a lot of crabs on the actual reef and many of the perch will follow you around (expecting to be fed). A loaf of bread in the water or any small amount of fruit will attract fish and youll get some killer shots!
I recommend parking at the Boca Catalina side of the reef and swimming back. The beach by the shipwreck is terribly sharp and rocky and it takes forever to you got float due to the shallow water.
Look for a blue sign on the road with 3 different arrows. Straight out from that sign is where a great reef is. ENJOY IT!
There are a few sitting spots you can park a car and sit under a cabana for a great view. The Sunsets here are fantastic but come early if you are planning to sit and watch the sun go down.
Snorkeling is good but in my opinion not the best (Arashi is best followed by Boca Catalina then Malmok). The reef is long and pretty deep. There is limited beach access so if you snorkel along the reef expect to be in the water for awhile. On especially windy days, the water can be pretty choppy so moderately experienced swimmers can get close to the reef on those days. Most of the time the water is calm.
There are plenty of rocky parts where you can see fish, squid and a turtle or two (they are usually at Boca way out from the beach). There are a lot of crabs on the actual reef and many of the perch will follow you around (expecting to be fed). A loaf of bread in the water or any small amount of fruit will attract fish and youll get some killer shots!
I recommend parking at the Boca Catalina side of the reef and swimming back. The beach by the shipwreck is terribly sharp and rocky and it takes forever to you got float due to the shallow water.
Look for a blue sign on the road with 3 different arrows. Straight out from that sign is where a great reef is. ENJOY IT!
Written 3 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kachinadoc
Phoenix, AZ29 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
I always enjoy Malmok Reef snorkeling when in Aruba. Have gone twice this year to far and maybe once more! You can snorkel up close to the rocky reef shore and see all kinds of wonderful fish, lobsters, octopus and coral. Is a relaxing slow pace snorkel and you can start at one end and just float along the coast to the other end.
Written 22 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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