As I traveled to different islands as part of the Passport to Paradise Project with Marriott Resorts of the Caribbean and Mexico, I began to notice some similarities in experiences. It makes sense really, they’re all islands so diving, snorkeling and even Jeep excursions are logical experiences for guests to enjoy. There was an outlier though; an experience in Aruba that was so different I knew I had to try it–a submarine ride.
To help me with my day under the sea, the expert staff at the Aruba Marriott Resort booked me on a morning ride with the Atlantis Submarine Underwater Tour. Atlantis submarines started almost 30-years ago in Hawaii, and since then they have expanded their fleet of passenger subs to tropical destinations around the world, including Aruba. The experience starts in downtown Oranjestad where guests meet the tender boat to the submarine mooring dock. Then passengers climb down into the hatch of the specially designed sub. Large windows line the cabin, designed for viewing the fish and coral reefs under the sea. The ride lasts almost an hour and the sub can plunge up to 130 feet beneath the waves. Along the way the captain offers professional narration and makes sure all guests get to see as much as possible.
I thought it was a fun experience and can easily see how children especially would love it. We did indeed get to see a lot of colorful fish, a few reefs and even an old sunken ship. I’m glad I did it once but I don’t think it’s an experience that needs a lot of repetition, once is enough because the real thrill isn’t necessarily the marine life but the sheer enjoyment of being in a real submarine.
I was in Aruba as part of the Passport To Paradise project and was sponsored by Marriott Resorts. However all the smiles, laughs and honest opinions are entirely my own. To learn more about Marriott Resorts of the Caribbean and Mexico and to see their current specials, please check out their web page.
