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Hilma Hooker

Bonaire, Bonaire
AOW suggestedDepth (hull rests on sand at 30-34m)18–34 m depthShore entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Hilma Hooker at a glance

Hilma Hooker is a advanced shore dive site in Bonaire, Bonaire with depths of 18–34 m (59–112 ft). Typically most favorable Sep · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Tarpon, Great barracuda, and French grunt. Recent reports put the water around 28°C (83°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 3h ago
1.0 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 28°C · seasonal avg 28°C

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

Best: Tue
Sun7:00–20:00
Mon7:00–14:00
Tue7:00–19:00
Wed7:00–19:00
Thu7:00–9:00
Fri—
Sat7:00–11:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:56 · Sunrise 6:18 · Sunset 19:00

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.2 km from site · graded 3h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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.

What Divers Say

Known for: Tarpon, Great barracuda, French grunt
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. Jan41%27°C1.4 m
  2. Feb39%27°C1.5 m
  3. Mar44%27°C1.4 m
  4. Apr41%27°C1.3 m
  5. May42%28°C1.4 m
  6. Jun17%28°C1.5 m
  7. Jul16%28°C1.4 m
  8. Aug58%29°C1.2 m
  9. Sep70%30°C1.2 m
  10. Oct70%30°C1.1 m
  11. Nov53%29°C1.3 m
  12. Dec46%28°C1.4 m

September hastypically 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

  • TarponCommonly seen
  • Great barracudaCommonly seen
  • French gruntCommonly seen
  • Horse-eye jackCommonly seen
  • Green moray eelOccasionally seen
  • Spotted trunkfishOccasionally seen
  • Yellowtail snapperCommonly seen
  • Hawksbill turtleOccasionally seen

  • Megalops atlanticus recorded here Oct–Feb, Jun–Jul (11 records)

    most recent 2016

  • Chaetodon capistratus recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Chaetodon ocellatus recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Chaetodon striatus recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Octopus briareus recorded here Jan, Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Sparisoma chrysopterum recorded here Feb, Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Sparisoma viride recorded here Feb, Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Sphyraena putnamae recorded here Jun–Jul (2 records)

    most recent 2013

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.

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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