The SS Perdernales was an American flat-bottomed oil tanker that was torpedoed by a German submarine in 1942.  For some reason, only the midsection of the ship sank leaving the bow and the stern sections afloat after the attack.  The U.S. hauled the bow and stern back to the U.S. and refitted it with a new hull.  Later this new ship was used as a troop transport for the Normandy invasion.

SS Perdenales Bow and Stern Being Towed

The midsection was left in only 8 meters of water in Aruba.  Large pieces of the tanker are spread throughout the site, where you should find everything from pipelines to lavatories, washbasins, and cabins.  without a proper guide it is hard to make out the sections of the boat.

There is a profusion of life including large schools of grunts, silversides and snappers, along with Trumpetfish, Angelfish, Grouper and Squirrelfish.

Matt and I found a school (20-25) of huge porcupine puffer fish swimming around the wreck, which is unusual as they are typically loners.  And when I say huge, I mean huge, one was twice the size of Matt’s head!  Puffers are by far one of my favorite fish so I was full of y joy being able to swim among these beautiful creatures!

We also saw our first frogfish which was camouflaged with the wreck.  I watched him for awhile to try to determine if it was really a frogfish.  It wasn’t until he opening his large mouth  in what appeared to be a yawn that I was convinced – what a fabulous site. Continue reading →