Boat Wreck North of The Cliff, Bonaire?

[drrich2]

Hi:

My favorite dive buddy wanted to go see the Windjammer, which we understand is below recreational depths but he figured we could look down on it from above. So today we entered at 'The Cliff' dive site, but instead of heading south to see the shallow wall, we headed north. We didn't find the Windjammer, and I ran low on air so we had to turn back, but we did find a really large boat wreck of some sort; I got down to 100 feet, my buddy to 107 feet, and we were basically at the top of it or thereabouts.

Any idea what the name of it is?

Thanks.

Richard.

 

[wwguy]

Coopers Barge. Google it by name, or for the Bonaire ship wrecks web site.

 

[diversteve]

Cooper’s Barge

This 100 ft. barge is sitting in 130 ft. of water and sank in 1972. She is in front of the desalinazation plant.

IDK if it's still there but in case you go looking for the Windjammer again:

Photographer Chip Cooper says that her foremast rests in 35 feet of water and points the way towards her deeper hull. She lies on her starboard side with the top of her port side in 160 feet. Her main mast and crows nest extend down to 220 feet.

http://www.aquaexplorers.com/bonire_shipwrecks.htm

 

[drrich2]

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated.

Richard.

 

[gbf]

I got in at Dive Friends Oasis and did a surface swim to the southernmost set of bollards just off the water plant. Drop to about 100-110 and head north. You'll swim directly into the barge. The bow is in about 110 and the stern in about 140. The harness used to try and salvage it is still on the bow.

Once I saw all I cared to (didn't take long) I did a normal dive southbound, ascending slowly until I was back at dive friends or thereabouts.