Bonaire
11-15-06

Today we wanted to go back to the Hilma Hooker and this time I took my camera. I also took my gloves in  the leg pocket of my shorts and lost them somewhere during the dive. If anyone finds a pair of medium Rife gloves can you send them back to me, Thanks! I found a web site with incredible photos of the Hilma Hooker sinking HERE

Dive 2 after a leisurely lunch was a site called front porch where we were looking for the wreck of a tug boat. after a few small wrong turns and false starts we found the entry, a very easy rubble beach entry and then we went south as directed but found nothing but a rubble wasteland with just a few fish. we then headed North and quickly found the wreck but there were few fish around.

Dive 3 after re-tanking was 1000 steps which is actually only 64 but as they say it seems like more on the way back up. here we found amazing corals the best so far with the possible exception of Nukove.

And then we jammed in dive 4 just before sunset at Oil Slick Leap. This is a tricky entry, either a 10' drop in to what we didn't know or a climb down a ladder from a small deck which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for my camera but we made it in OK and it turns out that the water is 15- 20 feet at the waters edge so if you are so inclined a giant stride is an option. Again great corals but the light was fading and we were both tired so when I asked Dan if e wanted to turn around early he agreed and we finished the dive in 32min

We watched the sunset as we broke down our gear and then headed back to Buddy's for dinner and early bed time, on the way back we had delusions of a night dive but were too bushed to even attempt it.
Every Morning the Iguanas wait by the walk for fruit left over from the buffet, this morning one of the kitchen ladies told me that they make good soup!
Divers getting ready for the 8:30 boat
Looking south along the reef, the boats are moored near the top of the wall.
Back to the Hilma Hooker, This time I have my camera.
This shows the entry area and back to the North
Gearing up
Other divers picking their way out thru the coral rubble and drop offs
don your fins and off you go, its that easy
Just South of here is Larry's Lair I have to admit just a touch of apprehension about the possibility of running in to Larry here but once in the water I pretty much forgot about Larry.
And then just after entering we found a small 2' barracuda, I hope Larry isn't around

Dan near the Prop and Rudder

The Stern of the wreck

Having several divers in the shot gives a good sense of scale, This is a large ship

 

The Ship is lying on its right side and we are swimming towards the bow near the bridge.

The forward mast and boom, The sand is about 90'

The Bow of the ship
 
 

Directly in front of the bow

Heading back to shore there is one last shot of the Bow from above

2 smaller barracuda about 2 to 2-1/2 feet long

Dan and a Blue Tang

A school of Silver Sides near the exit at Hilma Hooker, Next we move to Front Porch

A Blue Runner (with the bright blue stripe along the top) and a what I think is a Spanish Hogfish

A Sponge formation and various Fish at the Front Porch site

The Tug Boat wreck at Front Porch

At Around 90' we come to the wheel house

Other than the tug wreck there isn't much at front porch

The Stern of the wreck

Dan Takes a break, Don't go to sleep

An Ocean Triggerfish