Hi,

How difficult is this dive, four in our group, one divemaster (me) with nitrox, rescue, wreck, ice, overhead environment certification the other three are open water with experience.

roy

go for it you will have no problem use common sense!!!

It's an easy dive from shore, easier from a boat. Large tarpon and occasional large grouper live on the wreck. Lots of great photo ops, especially at swim through cuts, the mast in the sand, and at the prop.

It is really a pretty straight forward dive provided you recognize the depth. While I have never been narced on his dive, I know some who have. Other than that (and provided you avoid penetrating the wreck), I think it is a very simple dive.

My approach: I prefer the shore dive. I park at the south end of the entry. You should see a series of bouys (two or three) off shore. As you look out to sea, I take a compass reading on the left one.

I enter the water. It is a small step down (maybe a foot or two) and there are some holes to watch for. As with all shore dives, durable hard soled booties are strongly suggested. In about chest deep water, I fin up. Pay attention to where you are as there are coral heads around (including fire corals). I submerge and swim out on the compass heading.

As you reach the drop off, look for the wreck. If it is not seen, start to swim down the reef slope slowly angling to the north. When I am at the south end of the wreck, I swim out at about 70 to 90 feet and around to the deck (the wreck is on its side, with the deck facing out to sea). I explore around. The cargo holds are easy to swim around in and no special skills required. I would suggest training for anything else.

The max depth is around 100fsw and there is a second reef just west of the wreck.

It is important that people watch their computers and air -- it is easy for some divers to lose track of one or the other. Anyway, work your way north and reconnect with the reef at the stern. The prop at the back is a nice photo op.

I then swim up the reef slowly and working south. When I reach the bow of the ship (and by now I am at the top of the slope), I swim back on a reciprocal heading. Even though I do it as a no deco dive, I make many stops along the way starting at about 40 ft. And I have a slow meandering swim back as I have tons of air left, the reef is nice, and it is a good chance to off gas.

I swim back and look for a nice exit spot. In about four or five feet of water, I surface. Inflate my BC and take off my fins. I then walk back in to shore being aware of any holes or steps.

For those unfamiliar with shore entries, they should be given some direction about what to expect. If I were taking a newer shore diver, I wold talk a little about holes and urchins. I would talk about the need to look where you are going as you make your entry and exit. I would advise people to have their mask on, bc inflated and reg in their mouth as they step out or in (If they fall, they can see and they have air). I would advise them to have a plan in case they slip and fall and go turtle. Personally, if I am in at least two feet of water I am swimming out...

If the currents are brisk, I would modify the plan accordingly.

Thanks David that's a very comprehensive message and the tips about the shore entry are appreciated. Question on the currents though, are they usually present and if so how strong 1 - 2 knots and in what direction in relation to the wreck.

Thanks

Roy

I would expect very little current.

I love to dive in the south. Most of the sites can have some current and it can either run north or south. With one exception (and that was at a corner), I have never had a Bonaire current run anything but along shore.

I have had currents running one direction at 70 ft and another direction at 30 ft (nothing like going with a 0.1 knot current both directions...) I have had them change directions during the dive.

All of that said, more often than not, I see no appreciable current during my dives.

A current of 0.5 knots or above on the swim out/back would be pretty darn infrequent at the HH. Most HH dives I notice no current. And at the wreck itself I have never had much current. I think, in the worst case, I had to swim about 25 degrees into the current to exit where I planned.

I have only run into a two knot current once on Bonaire (at the southeast corner of the island, past red slave) -- at a site well known for current issues. And the current was pushing me right back into shore.

But the great thing about the south is that you can typically drift with the current, exit at another site (or in between sites), dump your gear and send one person to walk to the truck. Many people do this as part of their plan and others (including me) do it on the fly.

People used to diving in serious currents will laugh at what some people on Bonaire describe as currents.

We like to swim out to the marker (southernmost buoy is the bow) and descend on the wreck, starting the dive with a full cylinder, then pretty much do the dive as described above. It is a long swim out on the surface though. I like descending on the line and seeing the wreck come into view out of the depths.

it is a very easy dive there are two bouys marking the bow and the stern of the boat so it shouldn't be hard to find; although i do know of people that have missed the boat.

as with any wreck dive, the surest way to arrive at the wreck without a problem is to descend by the mooring line. It is an easily makeable swim on the surface using snorkel, or to swim out on your back (my favorite) so that you will have a full tank upon descent to ensure maximum safety while on the dive. Snorkel out to any of the mooring balls. When you arrive,get/stay buoyant and take a short break to re-orient yourself. Take a compass heading toward shore.(this will allow you to return to shore by swimming in underwater, following the up-sloping reef. Makes for a great slow ascent and a chance to check out the reef creatures.) You can also return up the mooring line, using the line to insure a slow, controlled ascent. There is normally minimal current at the site. As mentioned before, this is a fairly deep dive. Make sure all divers keep a close eye on air consumption and computers. Penetration should not be attempted unless proper training and experience allow it. Penetration is not necessary, there is plenty to see by circumnavigating the wreck.

Another very cool way to introduce new visitors to the Hooker is to approach it from the second reef. This is quite simple to do and really makes a great impression. Many divers on this board know this plan.

Enter at Angel City. The first objective is getting to the second reef. Take a heading straight out from shore. Stay shallow(20-25ft) as you traverse the valley between the reefs until you reach the second reef, then head north(right)and drop down to it. Follow along it until you reach the anchor chain. You can't miss it, it's huge. At one point you will see it disappear into the sand toward shore(right again). This is your heading back. The wreck will not yet be in view, but as you follow that heading it will appear in front of you. Really neat experience that most divers going to the HH for the first time don't get to experience. Time on the wreck will be limited and this is when all need to be aware or air and NDL. Cruise the wreck as much as this allows, then begin ascending to the south(right again) to the top of the reef and find the boat mooring(it is easy to find as well). You will now take the same heading to shore that you used going out and you will exit at the HH site. Both sites are very similar in entry/exit so there will be no surprises. After all are out of the water, one or two of you can make the short walk back to AC to get the vehicle(s).

If I was leading this dive I would not let the others know the HH is the ultimate goal and instead write it off for another day. It will add to the "awe" factor. I would also not do this until the group had a few dives on the island under their belt. The surprise will be worth a thousand conversations. WOW! is often used. Then I would go back and do a dive dedicated to the HH so all could really explore it.

Just an option, Roy. If you are unsure about it, talk to a local and you can get more advice, or email me and I can elaborate more.

M2C

Smack


(Message edited by smack on November 17, 2006)

Cool idea Smack, I can see the faces now as they see the wreck...awesome!

It's easily seen if vis is good...heh heh...I can only think of our last trip...Dylon's first time to the Hooker. We entered and headed toward the North bouy...vis was about 25 feet...dropped down to about 60F as we headed down the first reef...hit the second reef and I thought...ok, we missed it...turned around and headed back and a little deeper...we finally hit it...lol! So it is easy to miss if vis is really poor!

Hi Roy,

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but you're a semi-pro as a divemaster, so you should know the rules: hire a local pro for at least one day.

Right?

I wouldn't begin to dive wrecks off New Jersey without an experienced NJ wreck diver, why would you think wrecks in clear blue water are any less hazardous than the deep, dark, and deadly Atlantic coast?

Right?

Ok, I always sound like a jerk, but still, coming up with a couple hundred bucks to hire Bas or some other stunning Bonairian dive god (goddess) can't be too tough for four people to work out.

Right?

Smack, We did that with Brandon this past month, you should have seen his face when we reached the HH! Complete "WOW!" is an understatement. Great idea for sure!

you are right Jon compared to the rest of the responses I received you do sound like a jerk

Bas gave us the Angel City entry, Hilma Hooker exit briefing on our last trip. The anchor chain is the key. It was our second dive on the HH, and I would have to agree to see it come into focus while swimming along the chain was a great different perspective from seeing it appear during descent from the buoy.

we've done the hooker from angel city. we did it that way only because we were going to swim into the current which at that time was a mild one from the north. the only reason i don't do the hooker more is because of the crowds....some days i've seen as many as three boats and a dozen trucks there. get there early and you'll miss most of the crowds.

hmmmm that's what everybody else thinks too!!
sleep in... go late... 11:00-noon great, you'll have it all to yourself. Or do an early one and some surface interval.. works too. see nobody.. only fish!
Jon?!, couple hundres bucks? to hire Bas?? to dive hilma hooker????????????? whaaa? LoL you must be kidding!!?

Bas, would you do it for $300? heh heh ;-) I know, West side...no fun

Do the Hilma early - like be in the water by 7am and you should beat the crowds.

The Angel City to Hilma method is way cool... I didn't realize how close together they were until I saw the ship loom up at us as we were following that chain. Awesome!! (Right Tribs)

Oh, and I agree with David... narcosis is a possibility, I saw it happen to someone on a night dive and it was ugly!

(Message edited by morgans4me on November 18, 2006)

We did it 'early', and had Angel City to ourselves, and the HH almost to ourselves. There was a buddy team on the wreck U/W that surfaced around the same time we did (who thought the tarpon were barracuda), and a buddy team prepping to enter the water at HH just as we were exiting.

Since it's a deep(ish) dive, this worked well for us to do it early. I used independant doubles, my petite wife a single, both diving EAN32. We had plenty of photography ops along the outer reef and sand flat as well as on the HH this way. And, after a nice brunch SI, opportunities for several other shallower dives that day.

Thanks for the tip Bas! We'll try this again soon!

(Message edited by rj_west on November 18, 2006)