Aruba 1-Tank Night Dive for Certified Divers: Meet underwater nightlife

Nocturnal marine life and coral polyps lit by dive light

A 1-tank guided night dive in Aruba for certified divers with their own equipment, starting in late afternoon and descending as darkness falls. You'll navigate the reef with a PADI or SDI instructor using provided dive lights, watching nocturnal animals emerge while diurnal fish sleep and coral polyps glow under the beam. The dive is mostly from shore, sometimes with the Drumfish as a companion.

The experience

The dive starts around 5-6pm depending on the season, giving you time to set up your equipment and receive a safety briefing and dive light orientation on shore before heading to the site. Once in the water, the reef transforms: animals active only at night come out to hunt, sleeping fish stay tucked in crevices, and the coral polyps create a display visible only with a good light. Your PADI or SDI instructor leads the dive and decides whether conditions allow a boat entry or if you'll stay with the shore dive.

Bottled water is provided. The experience lasts around three hours total, including the setup, briefing and the dive itself. You'll need your own scuba equipment: any missing pieces can be rented at the shop for cash. Because nitrogen stays in your system after diving, you cannot fly for at least 24 hours after this dive.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• dive lights.
• safety and dive light briefing on shore.
• guidance from a PADI or SDI instructor.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and ThursdayDeparts at 17:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 5 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Pure Diving Aruba

Is this one for you?Book this dive if you're a certified diver comfortable in the water at night and want to see the reef's nocturnal side (the animals, the sleeping fish, and the illuminated coral) rather than the daytime reef most divers know. The three-hour window and shore-based entry keep the logistics simple for anyone already in Aruba with their own gear.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Dutch.

What is the Drumfish I keep reading about?

The Drumfish is a regular companion on the night dives, described by the operator as their "charming lady." She appears sometimes during the dive, adding to the nocturnal marine life encounter, though the instructor decides whether conditions allow the interaction.

Do I need to bring my own dive light?

No. Dive lights are provided as part of the experience. Without them, the nocturnal coral polyps and the nighttime reef would not be visible the way they are designed to be seen on this dive.

Can I do this dive if I haven't dived in a while?

You must be a certified diver who has completed at least one dive in the last two years. If you haven't met that requirement, you'll need to refresh your certification or choose a different experience.