Sonesta Airplane
Malmok · Aruba
A Convair 400 turboprop aircraft deliberately sunk in 1992 off the former Sonesta Island resort as an artificial reef. The plane lies on a sandy bottom at 15 m with wings intact, fuselage accessible, and both engine nacelles in place. Coral has colonized the airframe over three decades, with tube sponges on the tail section and soft coral polyps on the wings. Octopus shelter in the engine compartments. The site is compact and suits a short single-tank dive or a second tank after a deeper wreck. A second smaller aircraft — a Beechcraft twin — rests nearby at 12 m.
Conditions
Depth
12 to 16 m
Good for beginners
Current
Variable
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 29°C
Tropical wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
| Current | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
Field journal
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