Snorkelling excursions to nearby coral reefs and shipwrecks can be arranged with Fun Factory Sailing Adventure (tel 297/862017), departing daily from the De Palm Pier behind the Radisson Hotel at 9.30am. The four-hour trip on board the catamaran ($55) includes an open bar, hot buffet lunch, snorkelling gear and visits to a couple of reefs and to the Antilla , a sunken World War II German freighter off the coast of Malmok. For an extra US$45 they offer the unique sport of snuba, which combines snorkelling and diving. Diving lessons and packages to area dive sites can be arranged with Pelican Watersports (tel 297/872302), located next to De Palm Pier. They offer a variety of dive packages starting at US$160; a fully certified Open Water Certification course costs US$350. Red Sail Sports (tel 297/861603), behind the Hyatt Hotel and Allegro Resort on Palm Beach, also has a series of dive courses, charter tours to area reefs and night dives.

Deep-sea fishing with Pair-a-dice Charters can be arranged by calling Captain Monty (tel 297/929586). His crew usually fishes for marlin, wahoo, kingfish or barracuda. Half-day charters run US$280.

Aruba's only kayak company, Aruba Kayak Adventure (tel 297/824400), offers a four-hour guided kayaking trip along the southern coast of the island near Spanish Lagoon, a legendary hiding place for pirates. The fee of US$65 includes hotel pick-up and delivery, use of kayak and brief instructions, lunch and snorkelling gear. They depart every morning at 9.30am.

A variety of sailing trips and sunset tours can be arranged with several agencies. Jolly Pirates (tel 297/837355) operates a 70-ton schooner and organizes sailing and snorkelling trips departing from De Palm Pier (tours start at US$46). Mi Dushi Sailing Adventures (tel 297/862010) sets sail Monday to Saturday on a sunset cruise ($25-28).

Divi Winds (tel 297/837841), between the Divi and Tamarijn resorts on Druif Beach, offers windsurfing lessons ($45), sailing lessons ($50) and board rental ($15/hr). At Hadicurari Beach, Aruba Boardsailing Productions (tel 297/860989) rents windsurfers at US$20 per hour or US$55 for the day; lessons start at US$135/day.

A different and exciting way to explore Aruba's underwater realm is on board the island's only passenger submarine . The Atlantis Submarine (tel 297/886881) descends to 150ft and passengers can view schools of tropical fish, coral reefs and the remains of the Mi Dushi shipwreck. It leaves from the Atlantis Pier located across from the Sonesta Resort in downtown Oranjestad.