My buddy and I really enjoyed diving bonaire last year, so we booked to go to bonaire again this summer!

We'll be there last weekend of June through to the first weekend of July.

We both love the reefs in Bonaire, but sometimes we want some variety - so we enjoy diving the wrecks.

We are aware of 4 spots - Hilma Hooker, Wind Jammer, Eden's Rubble, Harbour Village (Our Confidence).

Is the windjammer accessible (by boat)?

We just found out about the wreck on Harbour Village. How do we dive the Our Confidence ship?


Are there any other wrecks that we should know? If so, PLEASE do post here.

Thanks!

There's a little known double wreck just south of Boca Spelunk. You need a boat. Bruce Bowker used to take 6 divers on an inflatable. Now there are others that go to the east side.

There's a small freighter well covered with coral (no entry, not even a semblance of a ship) and a small pleasure cruiser (Italian cruisers if I remember correctly) on top of it (entry possible, but not much to see - Bruce and others salvaged it clean).

The story goes that when the southern lighthouse light went out, not so smart navigators would see the Spelunk lighthouse, thinking it the tip of the island, and steer clear around the island smack into a hard, very hard wall. Bummer for sure and quite a surprise too.

Big groupers and other cool critters swimming around.

I also remember no casualties on either wreck.

The Windjammer is a guided boat dive only.

You can contact me at for more info.

info@rectekscuba.com

Barry, thanks for the comments.

Walt, I sent you an email.

*deleted post*

(Message edited by yukoneer on March 31, 2007)

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/ABC/BonaireN/La_Machaca/index.htm

I read something about a small wreck there. Anyone have any comments?

I also saw someone here on another thread mentioning a tug boat wreck - where is this?

I just found this excellent website that listed some (not all) wrecks on Bonaire:

http://www.aquaexplorers.com/bonire_shipwrecks.htm

Matt, La Machaca is SMALL...it's maybe 15 feet long. Not really a "wreck" IMHO...but a small boat to look at. There is also a small boat on Calabasas reef by Divi, much of the similar type.

Buy Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, www.bsdme.info, it lists how to get to The New Yorker (in about 90feet off Front Porch), the Bachanal, at Eden and the cams, and Our Confidence off Harbor Village, and the Hilma Hooker.

Looking at your last link, I've never heard of Cooper's Barge, Hesper, or the Mari Bahn. The "Tug" that is listed looks like "our confidence." Hopefully someone can pipe in about the wrecks listed.

isn't there another "wreck" in front of Captain Don's in alot of water though?? I think I remember some one saying that WaltIII does tech checkouts there???? Could be my imagination..

Hesper is the little dingy at (?)140 ft in front of Cap't Dons, right downhill from La Machaca. Not really worth the nitrogen accumulation unless you are trying to check off all the wrecks.

Mari Bahn is the original Gaelic name of the Windjammer, at 200+ feet up North, accessible now by boat (check with Walt) but not shore.

I've never found Cooper's Barge, by the desal plant.

I've never looked for the New York, off Front Porch.

Our Confidence was a little sterile when she first when down, but is coming along nicely as an oasis!

- Mel

Mel, the New Yorker is worth the dive, it's on it's side, and a lot of cool fish hang out on it

I am aware that La Machaca is small. That does not deter us at all!

We love seeing sunken stuff - gives a different scenery with all of the beautiful reefs that Bonaire has to offer.

Looks like that the bonaire shore dive book has been updated - are there any significant changes compared to the previous edition?

We were excited to know that Windjammer is accessible by boat - but wow! We didn't expect that wreck is quite deep as Walt described in his email. Oh well.

Also, where exactly is the desal plant on Bonaire?

The Tug is mentioned that it is front of Bonaire Scuba Center. I did a search and could not find it. Is it Black Durgon Inn?

Matt, you enthusiasm is contagious

The Tug is not in front of the Black Durgon Inn...not sure where it;s at. I think maybe the site is outdated, and Bonaire Scuba Center is now named something else perhaps? Hopefully someone who knows will pipe in

Matt, yes the newest edition of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy has some very significant updates.

One of the 3 wrecks in front of Eden / Harbour Village is a Tugboat. It's (from north to south) the Tug, Willy (the wreck that can be seen on the reefcam) and the Our Confidence. They can be done in one dive, although it's a LONG swim....

The Tug/New York "one in the same" is at the south end of the old Sunset Beach property just north of Edens Rubble.

Martini, that is if you actually find "The Tug/New Yorker" heh heh...

Matt, a friend and I tried to do The New Yorker and "Willy"/Bachanal (cam boat)" on one dive recently...the current there was the strongest I've ever experienced...we aborted going to Willy about halfway there and it took a lot of air and energy to "climb" and I mean CLIMB up the reef and back to the entry point!

note, when I say climb, we did not touch coral...we dug our hands in the sand to grip against the current

Susan, I just ordered the new bonaire shore dive book, looking forward to see what's new.

Kitty, I'm glad that I am spreading some enthusiasm

Grasshopper - that is interesting. Jackie and I dove the Bakanal 3 times last summer, and it was very easy. We saw a HUGE monster parrotfish using the Bakanal as shelter during a night dive.

Martin & Walt - thanks for clearing up where the Tug is.

From the Bakanal - what's the compass heading to go to the Tug/New Yorker? Anyone know?

Well, I´ve been doing the 3-wreck-tour with Sebbo and Jake when doing number 600 last November... (and yes, we did see them all... ) For text look here and for the pictures, look here.

So, Martini...it was ME that was missleading us that dive...tsk tsk ;-)

The Front Porch Dive site can have a strong curent. The New York tug is there at 100 fsw on is't starboad side with all kinds of neat things in and around it. On a light curent day the 3 wrecks can be done in one dive... Ron

Grass, I didn't know how to bring it in a gentle way... But YES, it WAS you... lol

Matt, I've dove Willy a few times myself, encountered "current" but let me tell you, it was nothing like the day we did the New Yorker. We grabbed onto a mooring line from the New Yorker to Willy to "reevaluate" our dive plan and were literally horizontal and hanging on for dear life. I had to hold onto a cement block at 17 feet to do my safety stop...and I mean hang on.

From Willy, if you dropped to 90F and went North you would run into it. However, I'd start at the New Yorker if the current is heading South...

Martini, I was following YOU...tks tks ;-)

So that's why we were going around in circles... I was following you... ;)

In August, I will follow you, OK? My dry suit will come with me that trip...

Martini, in August we will both follow Michael...lol! He is much better at navigating our local waters than I am...it's not straight forward like Bonaire!

I took Dee Scarr onthe water barge many years ago.. it was, and may now be gone, between the two docks at 110'... and the down a bit... nice life on it at that time.... oysters.. and nice eels.... it was a great nite dive .... not sure if it's there anymore.... someone ask Dee if she remembers...

Sorry see the next post below. The pictures did not get up loaded on this one

(Message edited by walt on April 4, 2007)

Here you might find these pictures fun. I do a couple of different dives on these Wrecks. The most common 2 are what I call My 5 Wreck Dive & the 6 Wreck Dive.

The 5 wrecks would be:
The Hesper



La Machaca



The Tug New York






Gerry’s Wreck



Our Confidence




I have done this dive both ways. Starting with the Hesper is the easy way (Down Current most of the time). We have done it on Rebreathers as you can see from the Pictures and also on a single 119.

For the 6 Wreck dive we start at the Cooper Barge then hit the other 5







These are long dives around 1 ½ to 2 hours but fun and different.

Sorry some of the shot aren’t great but I shoot with a small point and shoot digital camera that is small enough to fit in my spare mask pocket.

Thanx for the pictures Walt!

ok, the pics are GREAT! You've really made me wanting to book a trip to Bonaire this weekend!

Folks, Help me straighten out my wreck database!

1) Cavalier State (Tug) is at Front Porch Reef in ~60fsw
2) New Yorker (Tug) is at Front Porch Reef in ~100fsw
3) Gerry's Wreck is at ??? in ???fsw
4) Cooper Barge is at Desal Plant in ~130fsw
5) Our Confidence is at Harbour Village in ???fsw
6) La Machaca is at Capt Don's in ~35fsw
7) The Hesper is at Capt Don's in ~130fsw
8) Hilma Hooker is at Hilma Hooker in ~90fsw
9) Windjammer is near Bopec in ~180-200fsw (boat dive)
10) Willy/Bakanal is at Eden's Rubble in ~60fsw
11) Double wrecks south of Boca Spelunk in ???fsw (boat dive)


Is the Cavalier State and the New Yorker the same tug boat? Pictures of both look different...

Where is Gerry's Wreck? depth?

Where is the desal plant?

I believe this one is off Eden Beach. Correct me if I am wrong.

I hope this one is a tad larger; regardless it's off to bed.

Yes, that's the Bakanal

Gerry's wreck is in front of eden beach at about 60ft.
Desal plant is between cliff and small wall.

The spelonk wrecks. Actually tripple wrecks (unless Barry refers to another wreck site because the ones I'm talking about are in no way on top of each other and are south of the lighthouse, far south from boka spelonk), are between 75 and 90ft.

Starting at the southern most wreck. An old freighter. Not much left of it's structure. It's pretty beat down. It was even hard to determine what was the bow and the stern. So, no penetration possible. Interesting is the 'grit' of deck beams. There are a lot of holes and crevaces to check out.
It's position 12 degr. 12'42.7" N and 68 degr. 11'33.8" W




A little north of the freighter is what looks like a motor yacht. Cabin and deck are gone, and nowhere near!!?? Aft deck still in place. (pic of the hatch)






Then a little north of the m/y is a wooden sail yacht. You can tell it was a sailing yacht because of the steel rigging and sails(cloth) around and the keel beam. The hull/wood is completely gone. Engine with shaft and prop stand out the most. Interesting fact is that there was sail twisted around the shaft and prop. Bet these guys had an interesting story to tell, yikes!


They can be done in one dive if the current allows you and if you don't spend too much time checking them out. I guess they are over a distance of about 300 maybe 400 meters. A nitrox dive for sure.

Bas

Hey Bas,

I did the spelunk wrecks a couple of years ago. What I noticed was the absence of fish. No schools of fish, just one here and there. Is this common for the "spelunk wrecks"?

Peter

Folks, Help me straighten out my wreck database!

1) Cavalier State (Tug) is at Front Porch Reef in ~60fsw
2) New Yorker (Tug) is at Front Porch Reef in ~100fsw

The above 2 are the same just called different names. The Tug rolled down the reef during Lenny

3) Gerry's Wreck is at ??? in ???fsw

Is in front of the u/w web cam some people have renamed it "Willy"/Bachanal (cam boat)"

4) Cooper Barge is at Desal Plant in ~130fsw
5) Our Confidence is at Harbour Village in ???fsw

60 ft +/-

6) La Machaca is at Capt Don's in ~35fsw
7) The Hesper is at Capt Don's in ~130fsw
8) Hilma Hooker is at Hilma Hooker in ~90fsw
9) Windjammer is near Bopec in ~180-200fsw (boat dive)
10) Willy/Bakanal is at Eden's Rubble in ~60fsw

= Gerry’s Wreck

11) Double wrecks south of Boca Spelunk in ???fsw (boat dive)


Is the Cavalier State and the New Yorker the same tug boat? Pictures of both look different...

Yes they are the same

Where is Gerry's Wreck? depth?

See above

Where is the desal plant?

North of Capt. Don’s Habitat, part of the power plant


Ron the pictures you posted are of the Tug. Note the mooring lines. I spliced those lines and tied them on back in 1997 and they were all that kept the tug from rolling deeper during Lenny. The Tug used to be in 60 ft +/- before Lenny you can see the lines wrapped completely around the tug. The lines were used as a mooring for the dive boat Sea Explorer. 2 lines came up from the tug and one from the piece of steel up shallower on the reef

Peter,

I'm no expert on the spelonk wrecks having been there 3 times. But I do dive around the boka spelonk all the time. Apart from the wrecks it's similar as far as the way the reefs are shaped and drop offs are shaped.
Also around the area of the boka hardly ever see schools of fish. It's like you described, one here, one there.
And to be honest I don't really care, sure would be nice. But with such spectacular drop offs, beautiful coral gardens with massive flat growing corals, caverns and overhangs to explore, lobsters, huge barrel sponges... who needs fish ;-) I just love taking in the scenery overthere. It's so spacious. Nice! I wish I could go right now!!!

Wow...

All of this time, I thought that the pictures Ron Myers posted was the Willy/Bachanal!! I saw it 3 times last summer. I am amazed it actually is the Tug!! I've always dove from Eden Beach to see the tug - where did we miss Willy?

This surprises me. That means I've never seen Willy.


Updated list (with MANY thanks to Walt)

1) New Yorker/Cavalier State (Tug) is at Front Porch Reef in ~100fsw
2) Gerrys/Willy/Bachanal is at Eden's Rubble in ~60fsw
3) Cooper Barge is at Desal Plant in ~130fsw
4) Our Confidence is at Harbour Village in ~60fsw
5) La Machaca is at Capt Don's in ~35fsw
6) The Hesper is at Capt Don's in ~130fsw
7) Hilma Hooker is at Hilma Hooker in ~90fsw
8) Windjammer is near Bopec in ~180-200fsw (guided boat dive)
9) 2 or 3 wrecks south of Boca Spelunk in ~75 to 90 fsw (boat dive)

(Message edited by yukoneer on April 5, 2007)

Matt,

9) 2 or 3 wrecks south of Boca Spelunk in ~75 to 90 fsw (boat dive)

I would recommend to change that to "very rough boat dive". Lots of wave action.

Oh, yes. I very rough boat ride and if you end up sitting in the boat, bring a barf bag.

The photos of the flat freighter look about right and I observed the same thing - no schools, but there were individual large fish.

I'm sure after 10 years the smaller boat has shifted and broken up. Never saw the third at least not in my logs or memory.

I have only dived it once, but as Bas said, I too am not a novice at Boca Spelunk. I have more than 45 dives over there and never tired of it - never. Always different no matter what direction you went from the boca.

Used Nitrox over there too. Good idea. But, normally we did 80s, two tank dives. Ate lunch at the interval and explored the land caves.

Did it year round except for the rainy season. Too much mud to get through and only called the dive once.

Jumping off the cliff is cool. Timing is important though. It could be a 10 foot jump into 65 feet of water or a 20 foot jump into 55 feet water depending on the swell and timing.

An experience not to be missed for the experienced diver.

Sorry for going off topic. The focus on wrecks has been cool.

Oh man, you guys are so geek.

Gosh darn, but I like geeks!

Ok...so how does one access the Cooper Barge? Is there a yellow rock or do you need someone to point it out the first time? Remember...I still have not found the ying/yang to mark the drift dive from LaDania's Leap to Karpata.

The Cooper Barge is right in front of WEB. The best Shore access is from Bonaire Dive Friends/Yellow Submarine/Photo Tours shop at Hamlet Oasis Bonaire.

Thank you Walt! I know the Cliff well. You wouldn't happen to have a compass reading from the Cliff's entrance would you? Or is it better to walk the other way towards WEB to enter?

WEB??

Is the Cooper Barge the one that has a huge chain leading down, down down?

The best shore entry for diving the Cooper Barge is from “Bonaire Dive Friends/Yellow Submarine/Photo Tours shop at Hamlet Oasis Bonaire”. Then head out and to the north when you are in front of the old dock descend and start looking it sits in the sand right against the reek stern to shore. Depth at stern 120 +/- depth at bow 145 +/-

It sits right in front of the old Pier at W.E.B. ( Water en Energiebedrijf Bonaire ) Loosely translated Water & Electric Bonaire.

Only do this dive if there is no Fuel Barge moored above it off loading fuel.

If you follow the big chain down this is what you will find the Mooring block (literally an old engine block from one of the old diesel generators) for the big Mooring float on the surface. You will also find one of these on the shallow end of the chain in 12-15 ft of water.



This block is at least 150 +/- feet south of the wreck.