Page 124 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles
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A ll these hopes and plans were soon another meeting was called so the dive op- settled in 95 feet of water on her starboard
dashed. The ship could not be sunk erators could suggest an anchorage that, in side. There was no fanfare because it was
because it was evidence for the Attorney the event the ship should sink, it would be not legally intended that the ship should
General’s office of the Netherlands Antil- safe for navigation; cause the least amount sink.
les. If the owner was proven innocent the of coral damage; and possibly, become a
ship would have to be returned in the same dive site. B ecause the ship was being held as
shape it was in when confiscated. evidence in a drug case, nothing was al-
A fter many months of being tied to the lowed to be touched. The Hooker sank with
T he Hooker, therefore, remained tied to pier and pumped of water, on Sep- everything on board. It is not one of those
the pier as legal processes moved on. tember 7, 1984 the Hooker was towed to totally stripped wrecks made for diving
Of course, leaving this unmanned ship tied an anchorage. As the days passed, a slight but a true, honest-to-goodness shipwreck.
to a pier was not only expensive but also list became noticeable. The list was even This can create problems, though. The bunk
dangerous because of the many leaks in the more obvious one morning. The owner was rooms were still filled with debris such
very poorly kept hull. The owner apparently still not coming forward to claim the ship as beds, dressers and, occasionally, some
was not about to come forward to answer and maintain it so the many leaks added up articles of clothing. Many doors were still
questions and pay any maintenance or until on the morning of September 12, 1984 attached and those made from steel can be
towing charges or dock time, not to men- the Hilma Hooker began taking in water hard to move. A great deal of caution and
tion possible jail time. It was necessary that through her lower portholes. At 9:08 am she discretion is necessary for anyone planning
something had to be done soon or the ship rolled over on her starboard side and, in the on diving the Hooker.
could sink right at the pier causing very ex- next two minutes, disappeared.
pensive problems. A decision was made to F or those familiar with Bonaire, the wreck
move the Hooker to a permanent anchorage A s spectacular a sight as it was, hardly is in the area of the well known dive site
until all legal aspects were cleared. Owing anyone watched the last few minutes called Angel City. This is a system with an
to a great deal of foresight within both the of the Hooker’s topside life. Within seconds inner and an outer reef separated by white
government and the Bonaire Tourist Bureau, after she disappeared from the surface she sand. The Hooker rests on the sand bottom.
