Caracas Bay (Caracasbaai)

Caracas Bay, or Caracasbaai, wraps around a peninsula on the southeast coast and is best known underwater. Just offshore lies the Tugboat, a small sunken vessel resting in shallow, clear water that has become one of the island's signature snorkel and dive sites. The wreck sits encrusted with coral and surrounded by reef fish, and because it is so shallow, snorkelers get almost as good a view as divers.

Above the surface, the bay is a rugged, open stretch with rocky shoreline and a long pier, more of a launch point for water activities than a soft sunbathing beach. Dive operators run trips from here, and the calm, protected water makes the entry to the wreck straightforward. Beyond the Tugboat, the reef wall drops away for divers to explore deeper.

Snorkeling the Tugboat

• The wreck lies in shallow water close to shore, so it is reachable by snorkelers as well as divers.
• Bring water shoes; the entry is rocky rather than sandy.
• Mornings bring the calmest water and clearest visibility.
• No lifeguards; watch for boat traffic near the pier and dive entries.

Caracas Bay sits on the Spanish Water peninsula beside Director's Bay, which has the softer sand for swimming, so the two pair naturally. For food and a livelier scene afterwards, the Jan Thiel Beach clubs are a short drive away.