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Credit River - Hilma Hooker Traditional Cache

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Hidden : 8/27/2013
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


Credit River - Shipwreck Series

Hilma Hooker
12 September 1984





There are many shipwrecks around the world. Some very famous and others not so. Each however has it’s own story to tell. As you travel along the Credit River doing this series of caches, we have highlighted a number of these shipwrecks. During low water levels on these parts of the Credit River, you need to be careful in a canoe or kayak so as you don’t wind up in your own shipwreck. Besides the many large rocks along the way, there are also some other obstacles such as dams which should be avoided. All of the geocaches in this series have been placed by tubing, inflatable boat or on foot by walking in the water along the Credit River. Whichever way you choose to search for these caches, use caution and common sense.
More information about this series can be found here: Credit River - Shipwreck Series


Hilma Hooker

The Hilma Hooker is a shipwreck in Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is a popular wreck diving site.

In the summer of 1984, the Hilma Hooker had engine problems at sea and was towed to the port of Kralendijk, Bonaire. It was already under surveillance by drug enforcement agencies. Docked at the Town Pier, local authorities boarded the ship for an inspection when her Captain was unable to produce any of the ships requisite registration papers. A false bulkhead was discovered, and held within was 25,000 lb (11,000 kg) of marijuana. The Hilma Hooker and her crew were subsequently detained while the local authorities on Bonaire searched for the vessel's owners, who were never found.

The ship languished under detention as evidence for many months and through general neglect of her hull she began to take on considerable amounts of water. It was feared that she would sink at the main dock on the island and disrupt maritime traffic. After many months of being tied to the pier and pumped of water, on September 7, 1984 the Hooker was towed to an anchorage. As the days passed, a slight list became noticeable. The list was even more obvious one morning. The owner was still not coming forward to claim the ship and maintain it so the many leaks added up until on the morning of September 12, 1984 the Hilma Hooker began taking in water through her lower portholes. At 9:08 am she rolled over on her starboard side and, in the next two minutes, disappeared.

She came to rest on a sand flat between two coral reef systems in an area known to divers as Angel City. Her wreck has subsequently became a prime attraction for scuba divers visiting Bonaire. She lies in approximately 100 feet (30 m) of water, and at 240 feet in length provides ample scope for exploration. However, relatively little of the wreck involves penetration diving.

She is regarded as one of the leading wreck diving sites in the Caribbean.


Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gvrq gb n fznyy oenapu ba n qbjarq gerr ba gur rnfg fvqr bs gur evire. Irel pybfr gb gur ebbg raq ba gur gerr, ohg ba gur gbcfvqr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)