The Wreck of the Hilma Hooker
1984
Perhaps it was just the name that made someone suspicious
or perhaps an inside tip. Regardless, when she lost power just
off the coast of Bonaire and was towed to the main pier on the
island, it was not too long before a search was conducted. Soon
after that the cargo ship Hilma Hooker went into the history books
as a drug smuggler: 25,000 pounds of marijuana were removed from
between a real and a false bulkhead and placed on shore by the
authorities.
All of this immediately induced Bonaire dive operators to
appeal to the government. They wanted the ship to be purposely
sunk as a dive site. Hopes ran high as everyone wrote letters
and called meetings to discuss a location for the sinking and
what would be necessary to make the ship safe for diving once
it was sunk. All these hopes and plans were soon dashed. The ship
could not be sunk because it was evidence for the Attorney General's
office of the Netherlands Antilles. If the owner was proven innocent
the ship would have to be returned in the same shape it was in
when confiscated.
The Hooker, therefore, remained tied to the pier as legal
processes moved on. Of course, leaving this unmanned ship tied
to a pier was not only expensive but also dangerous because of
the many leaks in the very poorly kept hull. The owner apparently
was not about to come forward to answer questions and pay any
maintenance or towing charges or dock time, not to mention possible
jail time. It was necessary that something had to be done soon
or the ship could sink right at the pier causing very expensive
problems. A decision was made to move the Hooker to a permanent
anchorage until all legal aspects were cleared. Owing to a great
deal of foresight within both the government and the Bonaire Tourist
Bureau, another meeting was called so the dive operators could
suggest an anchorage that, in the event the ship should sink,
it would be safe for navigation; cause the least amount of coral
damage; and possibly, become a dive site.
After many months of being tied to the pier and pumped of
water, on September 7, 1984 the Hooker was towed to an anchorage.
As the days passed, a slight list became noticeable. The list
was even more obvious one morning. The owner was still not coming
forward to claim the ship and maintain it so the many leaks added
up until on the morning of September 12, 1984 the Hilma Hooker
began taking in water through her lower portholes. At 9:08 am
she rolled over on her starboard side and, in the next two minutes,
disappeared.
As spectacular a sight as it was, hardly anyone watched the
last few minutes of the Hooker's topside life. Within seconds
after she disappeared from the surface she settled in 95 feet
of water on her starboard side. There was no fanfare because it
was not legally intended that the ship should sink.
The Hilma Hooker was a general cargo ship with a length of
71.8 meters. She is about 11 meters wide, her tonnage, 1,027 and
was built in Holland in 1951. Prior to being the Hilma Hooker
the ship was known as the Doric Express. Before that she was the
Anna and before that the William Express. Before that she was
the Mistral and before that, the Midsland!
Because the ship was being held as evidence in a drug case,
nothing was allowed to be touched. The Hooker sank with everything
on board. It is not one of those totally stripped wrecks made
for diving but a true, honest-to-goodness shipwreck. This can
create problems, though. The bunk rooms were still filled with
debris such as beds, dressers and, occasionally, some articles
of clothing. Many doors were still attached and those made from
steel can be hard to move. A great deal of caution and discretion
is necessary for anyone planning on diving the Hooker.
For those familiar with Bonaire, the wreck is in the area
of the well known dive site called Angel City. This is a system
with an inner and an outer reef separated by white sand. The Hooker
rests on the sand bottom.
Only 90 minutes after she sank, the first divers went down
on the Hooker. The harbormaster of Bonaire wanted to know if the
wreck was deep enough not to be a navigation hazard. He needed
this information as soon as possible. Exactly 50 feet of water
was between the surface and the ship, making it plenty safe for
navigation and diving.
A reddish brown haze surrounded the lower half of the wreck
as rust and dirt settled out of the cargo holds. It was an eerie
feeling seeing a ship that was floating on the surface only a
few hours ago. The temporary low visibility added to the feeling.
Already, many fish were looking over the wreck, probably arguing
about who would get which room for a new home. A large ocean triggerfish
swam slowly over the hull, apparently not taken aback by this
new addition to its territory.
Air still bubbled out of various holes rusted through the
hull at the waterline. It was obvious that little was done to
keep this ship in shape except for its one main job of making
some quick money. An occasional drop of oil, mixed with the air
bubbles, slowly made its way to the surface. It was amazing how
little oil there was. The only real pollution from the wreck was
an odd piece of wood that someone will eventually find washed
up on shore on another island or coast.
Boats showed up the next day with many anxious divers waiting
to get a first look at the Hooker underwater. Even from the surface
it was obvious there was a shipwreck. Its outline, 50 feet below,
could be seen easily from above. The visibility had already cleared
up 100 percent and now one could see the entire ship in the crystal
blue water.
The ship itself has two large deckhouses, one aft and one
amidships. The galley and crew's quarters were aft. Amidships
is the wheelhouse and chart room. In front of each is a huge cargo
hold, completely open, with no debris. Below the aft house is
the engine room: No one should venture here. Loose deck plates
that once covered the bilge, and many other objects, are cast
about haphazardly. There are countless Items upon which a diver
could very easily get hung up. Visibility is very low with virtually
no light penetrating the compartment.
Although the shipwreck has areas that are dangerous, it is
still a wreck divers of all levels can fully enjoy if just a bit
of good judgment is used. Beginners who want to explore it can
easily stay at a depth of 60 feet and swim around the outside.
Those with a bit more experience can dive to 70 feet and explore
some open passages. This should be done with an experienced buddy.
It should be planned well so no one gets too deep inside the wreck.
Very experienced wreck divers may want to see as many different
compartments as possible. The maximum depth is about 100 feet
so everyone must really pay attention to bottom time and depth.
One comment most divers make is that it is so easy to go a bit
deeper than expected and for longer than planned.
Because of the size of the wreck, numerous moorings have been
placed for the dive boats. All of Bonaire's dive shops visit the
Hooker on a regular basis. Because it can be deeper than most,
the trips to the wreck are usually the first dive in the morning.
It would be very difficult to crowd this wreck. And, since it
lies between two reefs, it is possible to finish the dive among
the many varied corals in shallower water.
Photographic possibilities are unlimited. One of the favorite
shots is with a diver next to the large bronze propeller. Another
is the outside steering wheel on the aft cabin house. This is
near the funnel of the engine room, which is another favorite
shot. Views down the passageways and silhouettes are spectacular
in the clear water. These areas are all outside the wreck at reasonable
depths, making picture taking possible for everyone. Many fish
have made the wreck a permanent home.
For years Bonaire has looked for a ship that could be used
as a wreck. With the Hilma Hooker, what began as a bad idea for
someone turned into a lucky break for Bonaire and its divers.
Post Script: Since completion of this article new evidence
has been brought to light regarding the actual sinking. The source
of this information wishes not to have his/her name mentioned
but it can be said it comes from high up in the Cap'n Don's Habitat
staff-sort of at the very top, you could say. This source says
he/she witnessed a phosphorescent wake cutting through the water
late the night before the Hooker sank. It is claimed it was a
torpedo from the German submarine U-156, which has not been seen
in these waters since last attempting to blow up the Aruba refinery
on the evening of February 13, 1942, Capt., Hartenstoin, skipper
of the U- 156 his not been seen since then either, so he was not
available for questioning.