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Hilma Hooker

BonaireDirections
AOW suggestedDepth (hull rests on sand at 30-34m)18–34 m (59–112 ft) depthShore entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Hilma Hooker at a glance

Hilma Hooker is an advanced shore dive site in Bonaire with depths of 18–34 m (59–112 ft). Typically most favorable Sep · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see French grunt, Atlantic Tarpon, and Horse-eye jack. Recent reports put the water around 29°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 7:00–19:00 · favorable · sunset 18:09

Forecast for this hour · 4:00 · run 15 h ago
1.0 m (3.1 ft)waves — about a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 29°C · seasonal avg 30°C ( · Forecast 85°F · seasonal avg 86°F)

Site hazards: Depth (hull rests on sand at 30-34m) · Narcosis at depth on air · Boat traffic (marked by buoys)

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Tue
Mon7:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Tue7:00–19:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.0 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Wed7:00–19:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.8 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Thu7:00–17:00 favorable, 17:00–18:00 moderate, 18:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 11 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Fri7:00–15:00 moderate, 15:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 12 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 12 kn wind)

Sat7:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:02 · Sunrise 6:24 · Sunset 18:09 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.2 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 13:17 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Hilma Hooker

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: French grunt, Horse-eye jack, Yellowtail snapper
Best time: Year-round; dive the wreck first while fresh, then the adjacent reef. Limit bottom time at depth.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 41% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  2. February, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  3. March, 44% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  4. April, 41% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  5. May, 42% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  6. June, 17% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.0 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  7. July, 16% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  8. August, 58% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  9. September, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots, historically most favorable
  10. October, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  11. November, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  12. December, 46% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots

September has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Atlantic Tarpon recorded here Oct–Feb, Jun–Jul (11 records)

    Megalops atlanticusmost recent 2016

  • Banded Butterflyfish recorded here Nov (2 records)

    Chaetodon striatusmost recent 2013

  • Caribbean Reef Octopus recorded here Jan, Nov (2 records)

    Octopus briareusmost recent 2013

  • Chaetodon ocellatus recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Foureye Butterflyfish recorded here Nov (2 records)

    Chaetodon capistratusmost recent 2013

  • Redtail Parrotfish recorded here Feb, Nov (2 records)

    Sparisoma chrysopterummost recent 2013

  • Sawtooth Barracuda recorded here Jun–Jul (2 records)

    Sphyraena putnamaemost recent 2013

  • Stoplight Parrotfish recorded here Feb, Nov (2 records)

    Sparisoma viridemost recent 2013

Newest record here: 2016. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

The Hilma Hooker is a 72m freighter, seized for smuggling and sunk in 1984, that now lies on its starboard side between two reefs in 18-34m just off the shore south of Kralendijk. The shallowest part of the hull is around 18m with the bottom resting on sand at 30-34m, making it an iconic but depth-limited dive marked by mooring buoys. It is Bonaire's signature wreck, easily reached as a shore dive and rich with tarpon, barracuda and reef fish around the structure.

reefshorewreck

Depth (hull rests on sand at 30-34m)

Penetration should be left to trained wreck divers

Narcosis at depth on air

Boat traffic (marked by buoys)

Reviews

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