Tommy is an SDI Divemaster and AIDA Freediving Instructor with two years of snorkeling experience in the Maldives and 18 months of daily snorkeling with sea turtles in Aruba.
Evidence baseTiming strategy from Tommy’s recurring field observations; no encounter rate is claimed.
The short answer
For Tommy’s northwest Aruba route, begin at Boca Catalina around sunrise and visit Tres Trapi about four hours after sunrise.
These are two separate shore-entry swims, not a continuous swim between beaches. Exit at the same place you entered and travel overland before reassessing conditions at the next beach.
These windows are firsthand observations built from repeated snorkeling—not a year-round biological timetable, a safety forecast or a turtle guarantee.
Why the plan is relative to sunrise
Sunrise changes through the year, so a fixed time such as 7:00 a.m. does not represent the same amount of daylight on every visit. Select your date in the calculator and use the displayed sunrise and +4 hour times as planning references.
Before every entry, check waves or surge, current, visibility, posted signs, swimming boundaries and boat traffic. Reassess when moving between beaches; a later stop is not automatically suitable because an earlier one felt comfortable.
What this plan does not predict
It does not predict turtle presence, visibility, current strength or how long anyone should remain in the water. Turn back before fatigue affects the return and stay ashore whenever the entry or route exceeds your ability.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
What exact time should I snorkel in Aruba? +
Use the sunrise time for your date rather than one fixed clock time. Conditions on arrival still decide whether to enter.
Does sunrise guarantee turtles? +
No. The timing plan is a recurring field observation, and wild turtle sightings are never guaranteed.
