On top of being an interesting dive site, the Hilma Hooker has a colorful history. This is the tale our guide told us (but we hear that the story changes depending on who tells it!). The Hilma Hooker first started its journey as a Dutch cargo ship in 1951 but over the next two decades it changed hands and names many times.
In 1975, she sank off the coast of the Dominican Republic. There she stayed until she was raised from her early grave. Once again, she changed names before eventually being bought by a Colombian company in 1979.
In 1984, while cruising off the coast of Bonaire the Hilma Hooker had difficulty and was towed to the port of Kralendijk. Once there, and because the crew couldn’t produce the papers to the port authority, the ship was searched. Well, the search was fruitful as they found 25,000 pounds of marijuana stashed behind a false bulkhead! The Hooker’s crew was arrested, and the ship impounded.
But this sordid story doesn’t stop here.
Local divers were quick to see that the Hilma Hooker would be a great addition to Bonaire’s Marine National Park and petitioned the government officials to create a new dive site. Despite public support they were told that it wasn’t possible because the freighter was part of an active investigation and sinking the ship would destroy evidence. On top of that if the owners were ever found and acquitted, they would have to return the ship in the same conditions as when it was impounded.
Obviously, no one claimed the smuggling ship after it was impounded! So, there it stayed for months.
Just when you think this story can’t get any more bizarre. It does!
The ship being left for months unmaintained started to leak. Pumps were needed just to keep it afloat and it became obvious that keeping the ship docked at the pier wasn’t an option anymore. So, the authorities asked local dive operators to move the ship to a suitable spot in case it sank. And strangely enough the Hilma Hooker sank 5 days later. Hmm…
Apparently, the pumps malfunctioned, and the ship started to take on water. Two minutes later the Hilma Hooker slipped below the surface and sank to the sea floor creating a new dive site.
Fact or fiction? No one really knows…
Hilma Hooker shipwreck dive site
The 236-foot freighter lies on its starboard side with the port side resting 60 ft below the surface. Its mast rests in about 100 ft. There’s plenty to see on the outside.
The wreck is covered with beautiful corals and sponges, and there’s a lot of marine life hanging out on and around the wreck. We saw huge tarpons slowly cruising by as well as many species of reef fish. Tiny gobies, sergeant majors, damselfish, squirrelfish, angelfish, snappers… Likely visitors from the nearby reef which is spectacular and makes the perfect place for a safety stop.
While the Hilma Hooker is suitable for any level of diver, penetration should be left to experienced wreck divers. The ship wasn’t purpose-sunk, cleaned of debris or made accessible for divers prior to sinking. So, inside, there are many entanglement hazards.
The shipwreck is accessible either by boat or shore.
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