The NGO Aral Tenizi, which works to revive the Aral fishing industry, can arrange 4WDs and drivers to visit the sites. Ask for English-speaking Serik Dyusenbaev. A half-day trip to the Zhalanash ship cemetery and the sea costs 15,000T for up to four people. A day trip to the Kok-Aral Dam, 220km from Aralsk (about 3½ hours each way), is 35,000T.
A day trip to Zhalanash and on to tiny Tastubek, 25km further and the nearest village to the seashore (4km), is 20,000T: you can swim in the sea from an earth beach near Tastubek, and short outings (up to an hour) in fishers' boats can be arranged for around 5000T.
Aral Tenizi charges all clients a 3000T membership fee per group. Try to make contact ahead, to allow time to make your arrangements.
