by Hilma Hooker – Bonaire
One of Bonaire’s prime attractions for scuba divers, the Hilma Hooker became an accidentally sunk artificial reef with a shady past. In the summer of 1984, she was suffering engine problems and was towed to the Town Pier in Kralendijk. Under suspicion by the local authorities for drug smuggling, she was boarded and it was discovered that she did indeed have a false bulkhead loaded with marijuana. With the ship owner no where to be found, the Hilma Hooker began taking on water at the dock. Fear that she would take the dock down with her, she was towed just off the coast. On September 12, 1984, suffering from numerous leaks, at 9:08 am she rolled over on her starboard side and within 2 minutes disappeared. Not offering much in the way of penetration diving, the coral-encrusted ship is still fun to explore. Tarpon are frequent visitors to the site.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: Colombian cargo ship
- Depth: 25-100 feet
- Length: 240 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 50 to 100 feet; water temp in the high-70’s
- When to go: Year-round, but November through January is rainy season
Kittiwake – Grand Cayman
The USS Kittiwake is one of the best-known wreck dives in the Caribbean. Its convenient location, just off Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, and shallow depths make it a popular site among scuba divers, as well as snorkelers and freedivers. Donated by the U.S. to the Caymans, after an arduous path of regulations and logistic considerations, the ship was purposefully sunk upright as an artificial reef on January 5, 2011. Fast forward to 2017 and Tropical Storm Nate, the ship was impacted by the storm surge, pushing the wreck onto its port side, but remaining mostly undamaged. Today all levels of divers can enjoy marine life such as stingrays and eagle rays, barracuda, schools of horse-eye jacks, turtles, and groupers who think it’s a great place to hang around. You’ll also find plenty of macro life on the ship and garden eels in the surrounding sands.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: U.S. submarine rescue vessel
- Depth: 15-60 feet
- Length: 251 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range up to 100 feet; water temp in the low to mid-80’s
- When to go: Year-round, but November through January is rainy season
Felipe Xicotencatl (C-53) – Cozumel, Mexico
The C-53 is a great “divers” wreck. Donated to the Coral Reefs National Marine Park in 1999, she was purposefully sunk with large openings cut into the decks, hull and corridors allowing divers easy access into the interior. The wreck itself was chained to the sandy seabed to prevent it from shifting during storms or hurricanes. The C-53 is generally considered a beginners wreck because of the easy access to its interior, but the site can suffer from the occasional strong current, making it a bit challenging to navigate at times. The exterior of the wreck remains relatively clean, most likely due to the currents, but it boasts a great variety of marine life and sponges. Large schools of barracuda frequent the site along with grouper, eel and a wide variety of other reef fish.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: Originally a U.S. minesweeper, became a Mexican patrol boat in 1962
- Depth: 45-80 feet
- Length: 184 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 80 to 100 feet; water temp in the low- to mid-80’s
- When to go: November to May, hurricane season runs June through October
Salvatierra – La Paz, Mexico
Salvatierra was a ferry boat that sunk in 1976 after accidentally hitting Swanee Reef. Penetration of the wreck is not advised due to safety concerns, but there is plenty to explore on the outside. Check out the numerous remains of the trucks being transported at the time the ferry sank. Oh, and if the urge calls, find the porcelain throne. Just make sure it’s not occupied. This site is home to a variety of eels, an abundance of schooling fish, and lots and lots of porcupine puffers.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: Mexican ferry boat
- Depth: 60 feet
- Length: 295 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 15 to 100 feet; water temp in the low- to mid-70’s
- When to go: Year-round, but July through December offers the best visibility
USAT Liberty – Bali
One of the most popular dive sites in Bali, the Liberty was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942 and beached around Tulamben. In 1963, tremors from a volcanic eruption from nearby Mount Agung caused the Liberty to slip into the sea, landing on its side and breaking into three pieces. Because the wreck was stripped for the two decades it sat on the beach, diving the Liberty is mainly about the life that’s on it. Today it is overgrown in coral and home to some excellent macro creatures like frogfish, pygmy seahorses and ghost pipefish.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: U.S. Army cargo ship
- Depth: 15-90 feet
- Length: 411 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 15 to 100 feet; water temp in the mid-70’s
- When to go: Year-round, but December to March is rainy season
Jake Seaplane – Palau
During WWII, the Japanese maintained a seaplane base in Koror. Their long-range reconnaissance planes were known by the Allies as Jakes. These planes were equipped to hold a crew of 3, and a 550-pound bomb load. The wreck of one particular Jake plane sits at a shallow 45 feet and remains basically intact with both wings, one float, and its cockpit. The engine droops off the front of the wreck, and the tail section and other float lie about 20 feet away. The plane is completely overgrown with many different types of corals, including brain, lettuce, table, staghorn, and plenty of soft corals too.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: Aichi E13A-1 seaplane
- Depth: 45 feet
- Length: 38 feet long with a 48-foot wingspan
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 40 to 100 feet; water temp in the low- to mid-80’s
- When to go: Year-round, but December through April is the best visibility
Fujikawa Maru – Chuuk
For WWII history buffs, few places can top the haunting experience of diving Chuuk Lagoon. Chuuk, aka Truk, was the site of Operation Hailstone, a massive U.S. Navy air and surface attack conducted as part of the American offensive drive against the Imperial Japanese Navy in February 1944. More than 40 ships were sunk during this strike. Among them was the Fujikawa Maru, a passenger-cargo ship converted to a plane and aircraft parts transport. There are several Zero fighter plane fuselages and many other plane parts (belly tanks, propeller blades, wheels) in the forward holds along with large artillery shells. There is excellent access to the engine room and storage/work areas. Overall, there is an abundance of rich multi-colored corals and schools of reef fish that can be seen by divers.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: Japanese armed aircraft transport
- Depth: 15-110 feet
- Length: 430 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 45 to 150 feet; water temp in the 80’s
- When to go: Year-round, but May to November is rainy season
Kinugawa Maru (Bonegi 2 or B-2) – Honiara, Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands were the last place for the allies to stop the Japanese progression toward Australia in WWII. It is in SI that the famous battle of Guadalcanal took place. Home to hundreds of wrecks, this area was given the dubious name of “Iron Bottom Sound”. It’s here that yet another shipwreck plays storyteller of these historic times. Still visible just off shore, and a truck ride away from Honiara, both divers and snorkelers can enjoy the easy access from shore, just make sure to beware the occasional longshore current and plan your entrance accordingly. The remains of the coral-encrusted wreck serves as home to a multitude of schooling fish, garden eels and bluespotted stingrays, and some hidden treasures if you look carefully.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: Japanese military transport ship
- Depth: surface snorkel – 85 feet; visible from the shore
- Length: originally 436 feet; bow is now obliterated
- Dive conditions: Visibility can range from 15 to 65 feet; water temp in the low- to mid-80’s
- When to go: Year-round, but December to March is rainy season
SS Thistlegorm – Red Sea
Possibly one of the most dived WWII shipwrecks in the world, the SS Thistlegorm can be found in the Red Sea, off the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. This British supply ship is packed with well-preserved war relics, including motorbikes, cars, trucks, aircraft parts, rifles, and Wellington boots. This wreck is easy to dive, with many openings in its cargo holds, keeping you just feet away from a direct ascent at any time. As most things go in the diving world, this wreck was made famous thanks to Jacques Yves-Cousteau, who employed the knowledge of local fisherman to find it back in the 50’s.
Fast Facts:
- Type of ship: British armed freighter
- Depth: 95 feet
- Length: 419 feet
- Dive conditions: Visibility is generally 100 feet-plus; water temperatures range from low 70’s to mid-80’s
- When to go: Year-round
Leave a Reply