Walk along the Caribbean seafloor wearing a Sea Trek dive helmet - no swimming or scuba skills required - feeding clouds of tropical fish and posing at the submerged underwater cafe, then go deeper with SNUBA, a tethered air system that lets you glide over coral without heavy tanks. It is the rare bucket-list underwater experience that total non-swimmers and nervous beginners can do, on a private all-inclusive island five minutes offshore.
What to expect
A quick ferry from the De Palm dock drops you on a compact private island with calm, shallow snorkel coves full of blue parrotfish. Sea Trek is genuinely easy - the helmet keeps your head dry and you simply step down a ladder and stroll the seabed. SNUBA needs a short briefing and basic comfort in water. The island can feel busy and family-oriented; go early to the underwater activities before crowds and book those add-on time slots on arrival.
Cruise lines sell the SNUBA + all-inclusive De Palm Island package for roughly USD 140-180 per person. Booking the island pass direct and adding Sea Trek/SNUBA on-site is typically cheaper - but note De Palm's own hotel-pickup packages do NOT serve the cruise pier, so factor a short taxi. For independent travelers, direct still wins on price; the ship version mainly buys door-to-door transfer convenience.
Good to know
Take a ~USD 10 taxi to the De Palm ferry dock south of Oranjestad; ferries run continuously. Reserve Sea Trek/SNUBA time slots the moment you land as they cap participants. Each underwater activity runs about an hour including briefing. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a towel; lockers available. Comfortably fits a full port day with margin before all-aboard.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Oranjestad — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.