Hilma Hooker
The Hilma Hooker is a 72 m Dutch-built cargo ship that sank on 12 Sep 1984 off Kralendijk after authorities found about 11 tonnes of marijuana in a false bulkhead; she now lies on her starboard side on sand at Angel City between two reefs, 18 m at the shallowest and 30 m or a little more at the deepest. Tarpon, barracuda, groupers and moray eels live on the wreck, which is heavily covered with coral growth.
Facts
- Region: Bonaire – West Coast & Kralendijk
- Area: Kralendijk & Angel City
- Depth: 18–30 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 12.10375, -68.29012 (approximate)
- Highlights: wreck, tarpon, barracuda, grouper, moray
- Permit: Bonaire Nature Fee (Marine Park tag) is mandatory for every diver in the Bonaire National Marine Park (all water within the 60 m depth line around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire), shore dives included. bonaire.com lists US$40 per person per calendar year (1 Jan–31 Dec; QR code by e-mail, carry it with an ID), bought online at stinapa.bonairenaturefee.org or at dive shops; the 2026 fee period opened on 16 Dec 2025, so confirm the current amount with STINAPA. Rules: do not touch or stand on coral, take nothing, no anchoring on reef.
- Issuer / contact: STINAPA Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park manager)
- Phone: +599 717 8444
- Email: info@stinapa.org
- Website: https://stinapabonaire.org/contact/contact-information/
- STINAPA HQ, Barcadera 10; after hours / WhatsApp +599 777 8444; fee payment: https://stinapa.bonairenaturefee.org/. Fee amount per bonaire.com (https://bonaire.com/en/travel-info/nature-fee/).
- Tips: Boat dive per bonaire.com (three yellow buoys, 10-15 min from Kralendijk), though its list card mentions shore parking. Minimum Advanced Open Water, Deep specialty advised. Penetration only with a local qualified guide. Dive early (before ~07:30) for calm water and fewer divers. Take nothing.