Aruba’s west coast is its leeward side. This explains why most the shipwrecks are found here. Often ships were moored up here, seeking shelter from the trade winds that typically come blowing in from the northeast. Turtles also like this side of Aruba. March through July the immense Leatherbacks crawl onto Palm and Eagle Beach to lay their eggs. Around Westpunt one can find Green Sea Turtles year round. There are some reefs on this side of the island as well, although not as rich as around the south side. Usually there is a minimal to no current.
A dive site of note on this side of the island: Arashi Reef.
One of the few non-wreck dives on the western side of Aruba. This flat, young reef offers a lot of rocky ledges that Green Sea Turtles use to sleep under. Usually multiple turtles are spotted during a dive on Arashi. Other life to look out for are Moray eels, lionfish, shrimp and lobsters. Sandy channels run through the reef where stingrays like to dig into the white sandy bottom. Dives on this reef are 8 mtr/26 ft to 15 mtr/50 ft deep, making it a great dive for beginners.