Without a doubt, Bonaire is an incredible place to dive. With warm, blue water, a fantastic array of marine life, and plenty of interesting wrecks and reefs to explore, it is a true diver’s paradise! Let’s take a look at five of the best wrecks Bonaire has to offer.
Hesper
The wreck of the Hesper lies in 130 feet of water, on the sand. She is slowly acquiring a fantastic coat of coral and sponge growth, as she has only been here since Hurricane Gilbert tore her from her moorings and sunk her in 1988. This 40 foot sailboat takes only a single dive to explore, and is a wonderful site for both wide angle and macro photography. Watch for sharks napping in the sand alongside the wreck!
Hilma Hooker
The Hilma Hooker was built in Holland, in 1951. For decades, she carried various types of cargo from one place to another, until, in the early 1980’s, she was caught with more than 25,000 pounds of marijuana hidden behind a false bulkhead. After this incident, she was impounded just offshore. Her hull, which had many small holes, allowed her to take on water, until finally, her pumps gave out and she slipped below the serene blue water on September 12, 1984.
Local dive operators stepped in, cutting cables, drilling holes in the ship’s side, and opening hatches to make the ship a fun and safe site for divers to explore. Today, Hilma Hooker has acquired layer upon lovely layer of coral and sponge growth, and is a haven for all kinds of fish and invertebrates. She lies in 90 feet of water, adjacent to a fantastic reef, which is the perfect place to end your dive. Look for the ship’s massive bronze propeller at 65 feet – it’s a great place to pose for photos!
Tug Wreck
A wonderful site for photography, and small enough to be captured in a single wide angle shot, the old tug, which was once called the Cavalier State, rests in just 70 feet of water. The tug lies on her port side, and can be easily accessed from shore. You’ll find plenty of marvelous reef fish swirling about her remains, and even a very large moray eel hiding inside the cabin. Visibility in the area is usually better than 20 meters, but it can be reduced when large numbers of divers are in the water. Visit on a weekday to enjoy less crowded diving conditions!
Coopers Barge
Cooper’s Barge, which is 100 feet long, has been sitting beneath 140 feet of water since 1972, and is fantastically colorful, with a magnificent coat of all kinds of coral and sponge, plus countless invertebrates. You’ll find the wreck right in front of the Bonaire desalination plant, and it can only be dived when there are no tanker ships overhead.
Incredibly, this wreck can be accessed from shore. To get there, tie off to the southernmost mooring, and then swim for 100 yards to the north.
Mari Bahn
In Gaelic, Mari Bahn means “Bonnie Mary”, and a bonnie wreck this old iron barque is! The ship is 239 feet long with a 37 foot beam and an elegant triple masted design. The ship was carrying a load of asphalt, when she sank on December 7 of 1912.
Today, she lies beneath 200 feet of water off Bonaire’s northwest coast. Her foremast can be accessed at 35 feet, and leads to the ship, which lies on her starboard side, with her port side accessible at 160 feet. Thanks to the advent of mixed air, the ship can now be visited with greater ease and by larger numbers of divers. You’ll find large pelagics on the deeper sections, plus an amazing array of invertebrates living among the century’s worth of coral growth.
No matter which of these wrecks you choose to visit, you’re sure to come away with a sense of wonder and awe at all the incredible life that lives onboard! Be sure to book your trip in advance – Bonaire is becoming more popular than ever.