Is Hilma Hooker the only wreck one can dive in Bonaire?

I'm just looking at my Bonaire diving and snorkeling guide for other wrecks - I think (and Jake & Linda can jump right in here) that the Helma Hooker is the only intact wreck. I see listings for: La Machaca (40' of water in front of Capt. Dons), New York (sml tugboat located at Front Porch). The book I'm referring to was printed in 1991 and I don't know if it has been updated since. It also doesn't list every site on Bonaire.

Actually, I just visited another very intact wreck last week - dive site is called (unofficially) Cooper's Barge - documented in the new shore diving guide by Jessie Armacost (see http://www.bonairereporter.com to buy a copy, I think).

It's located behind the WEB (utility) plant in Hato. The barge is in excellent shape at about 120-140 fsw. No openings for penetration though.

There's also a recent wreck off Eden Beach (a yacht in about 30' of water), and the Windjammer (near BOPEC) in about 180 fsw).

However as a nice, reasonably safe wreck dive, the Hilma Hooker is tops.

Jake

Another nearby "wreck" dive is the tug Empire State. In about 80 ft. of water off the dive site "Front Porch" (Playa Leche). That is right next door to Sand Dollar, you can enter between Sand Dollar and the burnt out Sunset Beach hotel. The tug was the hangout of a LARGE green moray (Moray Lisa) and she may still be there. On the South side of the property is the ruins of a cement pier, drop down next to the pier (watch for debris) and head slightly South.

Capt Don's also has a tug "La Machaca" (spelling needs help) in about 30 ft of water.

There's one of the best wrecks in the entire world off Bonaire. It's locally known as the Windjammer, a BIG, steel hulled pure sailing boat (no prop shafts or paddlewheels). For info check out: http://dreamwrecks.com/test2
It's at 180 ft. so do it with a guide at first and have the experience to handle the depth safely before you even consider it.
People dive it EVERY DAY so it's do-able.
There are zillions of wrecks on the east side but you can't dive them when the heavy tredewinds are blowing... like today in Bonaire.Not up for that. Try the wreck of the sailboat Sea Cow off WannaDive. 50 ft. will do ya.
George

George, the windjammer you refer to is NOT "do-able." It is a very technical dive that, as you said, should be attempted only by divers trained in extended range diving. This is NOT a recreational dive, divers attempting to go to these depths must fully understand the affects of nitrogen narcosis, the partial pressures of 02, and the very important fact that your rate of air compsumption (SAC) at that depth can lead you to an out-of-air situation in which your buddy cannot help you. People do not dive it EVERY DAY.

There is a Technical Dive operation on Bonaire that, if a diver meets the prequisites for diving to that depth, can escort you and provide the equipment necessary for extended range and for scheduled decompression.

Although Jake listed the wreck, the location "off BOPEC" is vague enough to deter the recreational diver from attempting to locate it. This dive is best left to those trained and properly equipped. One unfortunate accident and this dive could easily be placed on the Do Not Dive list.

Thank you for the information.

The Windjammer is not a simple recreational dive. It
is 'do-able' with simple, proper equipment by
experienced divers. It has been done that way for
more than thirty years by many divers with few or no
accidents. The Andrea Doria is a 'very technical dive'.
More divers have been lost on Bonaire doing
recreational dives, in part, at least, because all the dive
ops honor the 'experienced' part and only support
divers they have confidence in for going to the W.
Certainly that has been my experience.

One important part of experience that has not been
mentioned here is a careful understanding of your own
narcosis susceptability. The W. at 180 feet is no place to
explore that.