Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck

debersole · 13th February 2008, 23:50

Last week my wife and I vacationed in Bonaire. We were both on faculty for a dive medicine meeting sponsored by Medical Seminars (Medical Seminars, Inc.). As we have been to Bonaire several times, I decided to experience some “firsts” while there. First of all, I shot wide angle all week with no macro as I have tons of macro shots from Bonaire. Secondly, I certified my wife on the Kiss CCR during the week. Finally, I did my first dive on Bonaire’s technical diving gem – the Windjammer.
The Windjammer went down during a storm in 1912 while transporting barrels of tar back to Italy. It rests just off a beautiful wall dive in 200 fsw. My buddy for this world famous shore dive was Walt Stark of Rec Tek Scuba (Rec Tek Scuba Bonaire - We do it silent. We do it deep. Techincal diving.). He has all the technical supplies you could ask for – doubles, deco bottles, rebreather bottles, trimix, Sulfnolime, etc.
This is not your usual shore dive. The entry site is on the property of BOPEC, the Bonaire petroleum company. You must send them your passport information in advance and bring a copy of your passport the day of the dive. You cannot dive if there are ships in port or coming into or out of the port. Thankfully, everything worked out for us and we were allowed entrance into the pad-locked and barbed wire entry point. It was just a ten minute kick out on the surface and we dropped down onto the wreck.
I was on my Kiss CCR and Walt on his Evolution CCR. We both were using 16/35 trimix as a diluent gas with open circuit bailout of air and EAN80.
As we descended to about 100 fsw in the clear blue 80 degree water the wreck came into sight. She sits on her starboard side with the bow aiming south. As we hit the sand near the bow in 200 fsw, a large green moray was swimming around. We then perused the outside of the wreck and then penetrated the hull where there are a multitude of barrels with tar still seeping out of them. According to Walt, the tar continues to move along the sea floor at about six inches per year.
After a 25 minute bottom time, we began our ascent with deco stops along the picturesque wall. During deco we had encounters with multiple eels, a small green turtle, lots of tropicals and several beautiful peacock flounder. The wall begins in about 10-15 feet of water so we spent our last 15 minutes of deco exploring the shallows which were filled with tropicals, lettuce leaf sea slugs, and flamingo tongues.
After a total run time of just under 100 minutes, it was a short walk up to Walt’s truck and back to the hotel. The Windjammer is truly an outstanding dive and probably one of the best technical dives in the Caribbean. It’s a must see for any technical diver visiting Bonaire.
Here are some photos:
Bow of the Windjammer

Green Moray at 200 fsw

[
Inside the Windjammer’s cargo hold

Tar seeping out of the barrels (consistency of taffy)

Stern

Deco

Here’s my wife from earlier in the week on a recreational dive:

Other images from the week are here:
debersole.com

**Dsix36** · 14th February 2008, 00:49

Sounds like you and your wife had a nice trip. Congrats on the cert. As usual, the pics are quite nice. Thanks for posting them.

**sfldiver** · 14th February 2008, 00:57

Doug, we can always count on you to provide us with awesome pictures and great trip reports! It sounds like you had an amazing time in Bonaire. Also, congratulations to your wife - We're looking forward to seeing her on a S.C.R.U.B.'s trip sometime.

Adrian

silent running · 14th February 2008, 00:59

Thanks for the pictures, very nice.

RebreatherNut · 14th February 2008, 02:00

Great Pics, Thank you!
Looks like you had a great trip.

cheers,
RBN

***jradomski*** · 14th February 2008, 02:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by debersole)

Last week my wife and I vacationed in Bonaire. We were both on faculty for a dive medicine meeting sponsored by Medical Seminars (Medical Seminars, Inc.). As we have been to Bonaire several times, I decided to experience some “firsts” while there. First of all, I shot wide angle all week with no macro as I have tons of macro shots from Bonaire. Secondly, I certified my wife on the Kiss CCR during the week. Finally, I did my first dive on Bonaire’s technical diving gem – the Windjammer.
The Windjammer went down during a storm in 1912 while transporting barrels of tar back to Italy. It rests just off a beautiful wall dive in 200 fsw. My buddy for this world famous shore dive was Walt Stark of Rec Tek Scuba (Rec Tek Scuba Bonaire - We do it silent. We do it deep. Techincal diving.). He has all the technical supplies you could ask for – doubles, deco bottles, rebreather bottles, trimix, Sulfnolime, etc.
This is not your usual shore dive. The entry site is on the property of BOPEC, the Bonaire petroleum company. You must send them your passport information in advance and bring a copy of your passport the day of the dive. You cannot dive if there are ships in port or coming into or out of the port. Thankfully, everything worked out for us and we were allowed entrance into the pad-locked and barbed wire entry point. It was just a ten minute kick out on the surface and we dropped down onto the wreck.
I was on my Kiss CCR and Walt on his Evolution CCR. We both were using 16/35 trimix as a diluent gas with open circuit bailout of air and EAN80.
As we descended to about 100 fsw in the clear blue 80 degree water the wreck came into sight. She sits on her starboard side with the bow aiming south. As we hit the sand near the bow in 200 fsw, a large green moray was swimming around. We then perused the outside of the wreck and then penetrated the hull where there are a multitude of barrels with tar still seeping out of them. According to Walt, the tar continues to move along the sea floor at about six inches per year.
After a 25 minute bottom time, we began our ascent with deco stops along the picturesque wall. During deco we had encounters with multiple eels, a small green turtle, lots of tropicals and several beautiful peacock flounder. The wall begins in about 10-15 feet of water so we spent our last 15 minutes of deco exploring the shallows which were filled with tropicals, lettuce leaf sea slugs, and flamingo tongues.
After a total run time of just under 100 minutes, it was a short walk up to Walt’s truck and back to the hotel. The Windjammer is truly an outstanding dive and probably one of the best technical dives in the Caribbean. It’s a must see for any technical diver visiting Bonaire.
Here are some photos:
Bow of the Windjammer

Green Moray at 200 fsw

[
Inside the Windjammer’s cargo hold

Tar seeping out of the barrels (consistency of taffy)

Stern

Deco

Here’s my wife from earlier in the week on a recreational dive:

Other images from the week are here:
debersole.com

They are allowing this as a shore dive again?? Last time I heard it had to be dived from a boat..

**vidodivr** · 14th February 2008, 03:09

Quote: (Originally Posted by jradomski)

They are allowing this as a shore dive again?? Last time I heard it had to be dived from a boat..

OK, I'll say it.......Obviously Joe

***jradomski*** · 14th February 2008, 04:31

Quote: (Originally Posted by vidodivr)

OK, I'll say it.......Obviously Joe

well.. not necesarilly... sometimes "locals" can get away with stuff that tourists on their own can't..

Mixaddict · 14th February 2008, 05:26

Doug,

Beautiful photos! What kind of camera and housing are you shooting?

Regards,
Randy

MrClive · 14th February 2008, 06:18

hi doug.

great photos, well done to our wife

13th February 2008, 23:50	#1 (permalink)
debersole Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Azimuth Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Dolphin Azimuth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 199	Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Last week my wife and I vacationed in Bonaire. We were both on faculty for a dive medicine meeting sponsored by Medical Seminars (Medical Seminars, Inc.). As we have been to Bonaire several times, I decided to experience some “firsts” while there. First of all, I shot wide angle all week with no macro as I have tons of macro shots from Bonaire. Secondly, I certified my wife on the Kiss CCR during the week. Finally, I did my first dive on Bonaire’s technical diving gem – the Windjammer. The Windjammer went down during a storm in 1912 while transporting barrels of tar back to Italy. It rests just off a beautiful wall dive in 200 fsw. My buddy for this world famous shore dive was Walt Stark of Rec Tek Scuba (Rec Tek Scuba Bonaire - We do it silent. We do it deep. Techincal diving.). He has all the technical supplies you could ask for – doubles, deco bottles, rebreather bottles, trimix, Sulfnolime, etc. This is not your usual shore dive. The entry site is on the property of BOPEC, the Bonaire petroleum company. You must send them your passport information in advance and bring a copy of your passport the day of the dive. You cannot dive if there are ships in port or coming into or out of the port. Thankfully, everything worked out for us and we were allowed entrance into the pad-locked and barbed wire entry point. It was just a ten minute kick out on the surface and we dropped down onto the wreck. I was on my Kiss CCR and Walt on his Evolution CCR. We both were using 16/35 trimix as a diluent gas with open circuit bailout of air and EAN80. As we descended to about 100 fsw in the clear blue 80 degree water the wreck came into sight. She sits on her starboard side with the bow aiming south. As we hit the sand near the bow in 200 fsw, a large green moray was swimming around. We then perused the outside of the wreck and then penetrated the hull where there are a multitude of barrels with tar still seeping out of them. According to Walt, the tar continues to move along the sea floor at about six inches per year. After a 25 minute bottom time, we began our ascent with deco stops along the picturesque wall. During deco we had encounters with multiple eels, a small green turtle, lots of tropicals and several beautiful peacock flounder. The wall begins in about 10-15 feet of water so we spent our last 15 minutes of deco exploring the shallows which were filled with tropicals, lettuce leaf sea slugs, and flamingo tongues. After a total run time of just under 100 minutes, it was a short walk up to Walt’s truck and back to the hotel. The Windjammer is truly an outstanding dive and probably one of the best technical dives in the Caribbean. It’s a must see for any technical diver visiting Bonaire. Here are some photos: Bow of the Windjammer Green Moray at 200 fsw [ Inside the Windjammer’s cargo hold Tar seeping out of the barrels (consistency of taffy) Stern Deco Here’s my wife from earlier in the week on a recreational dive: Other images from the week are here: debersole.com __________________ www.debersole.com
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14th February 2008, 00:49	#2 (permalink)
Dsix36 Going Down? Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 891	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Sounds like you and your wife had a nice trip. Congrats on the cert. As usual, the pics are quite nice. Thanks for posting them. __________________ THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!
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14th February 2008, 00:57	#3 (permalink)
sfldiver Team Optima Diver Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 663	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Doug, we can always count on you to provide us with awesome pictures and great trip reports! It sounds like you had an amazing time in Bonaire. Also, congratulations to your wife - We're looking forward to seeing her on a S.C.R.U.B.'s trip sometime. Adrian __________________ *Currently piloting & shooting...* Dive Rite O2ptima FX Rigged w/ a Dsix Custom Aluminum Frame, Nomad Wing, Transpac Harness and VR3 Computer w/ VPM-B/E & a 4th Cell Sensor Link.* Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera *Rigged in a Patima-PDCH 2008 G9 Aluminum Housing w/ an Inon UWL-100 Achromat Wide Conversion Lens, 2 Inon UCL-165M67 Close-Up Lenses and 2 Inon Z-240 Strobes.
(Online)

14th February 2008, 00:59	#4 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,777	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Thanks for the pictures, very nice.
(Online)

14th February 2008, 02:00	#5 (permalink)
RebreatherNut Rebreather World Greeter Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Ray Other Rebreather/s: Ray Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 677	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Great Pics, Thank you! Looks like you had a great trip. cheers, RBN __________________ "One minute to go, Luck-meister! Then I'll be down on you like a buzzard on a gut wagon." - ALF
(Offline)

14th February 2008, 02:24	#6 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 2,817	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Quote: (Originally Posted by debersole) Last week my wife and I vacationed in Bonaire. We were both on faculty for a dive medicine meeting sponsored by Medical Seminars (Medical Seminars, Inc.). As we have been to Bonaire several times, I decided to experience some “firsts” while there. First of all, I shot wide angle all week with no macro as I have tons of macro shots from Bonaire. Secondly, I certified my wife on the Kiss CCR during the week. Finally, I did my first dive on Bonaire’s technical diving gem – the Windjammer. The Windjammer went down during a storm in 1912 while transporting barrels of tar back to Italy. It rests just off a beautiful wall dive in 200 fsw. My buddy for this world famous shore dive was Walt Stark of Rec Tek Scuba (Rec Tek Scuba Bonaire - We do it silent. We do it deep. Techincal diving.). He has all the technical supplies you could ask for – doubles, deco bottles, rebreather bottles, trimix, Sulfnolime, etc. This is not your usual shore dive. The entry site is on the property of BOPEC, the Bonaire petroleum company. You must send them your passport information in advance and bring a copy of your passport the day of the dive. You cannot dive if there are ships in port or coming into or out of the port. Thankfully, everything worked out for us and we were allowed entrance into the pad-locked and barbed wire entry point. It was just a ten minute kick out on the surface and we dropped down onto the wreck. I was on my Kiss CCR and Walt on his Evolution CCR. We both were using 16/35 trimix as a diluent gas with open circuit bailout of air and EAN80. As we descended to about 100 fsw in the clear blue 80 degree water the wreck came into sight. She sits on her starboard side with the bow aiming south. As we hit the sand near the bow in 200 fsw, a large green moray was swimming around. We then perused the outside of the wreck and then penetrated the hull where there are a multitude of barrels with tar still seeping out of them. According to Walt, the tar continues to move along the sea floor at about six inches per year. After a 25 minute bottom time, we began our ascent with deco stops along the picturesque wall. During deco we had encounters with multiple eels, a small green turtle, lots of tropicals and several beautiful peacock flounder. The wall begins in about 10-15 feet of water so we spent our last 15 minutes of deco exploring the shallows which were filled with tropicals, lettuce leaf sea slugs, and flamingo tongues. After a total run time of just under 100 minutes, it was a short walk up to Walt’s truck and back to the hotel. The Windjammer is truly an outstanding dive and probably one of the best technical dives in the Caribbean. It’s a must see for any technical diver visiting Bonaire. Here are some photos: Bow of the Windjammer Green Moray at 200 fsw [ Inside the Windjammer’s cargo hold Tar seeping out of the barrels (consistency of taffy) Stern Deco Here’s my wife from earlier in the week on a recreational dive: Other images from the week are here: debersole.com They are allowing this as a shore dive again?? Last time I heard it had to be dived from a boat.. __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated. Last edited by jradomski : 14th February 2008 at 04:32.
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14th February 2008, 03:09	#7 (permalink)
vidodivr swims in fishes toilets Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Florida/Michigan Posts: 475	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Quote: (Originally Posted by jradomski) They are allowing this as a shore dive again?? Last time I heard it had to be dived from a boat.. OK, I'll say it.......Obviously Joe __________________ Have a good one, Rob LaLonde CK #087 Narked@90 frame URM
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14th February 2008, 04:31	#8 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 2,817	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Quote: (Originally Posted by vidodivr) OK, I'll say it.......Obviously Joe well.. not necesarilly... sometimes "locals" can get away with stuff that tourists on their own can't.. __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.
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14th February 2008, 05:26	#9 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 426	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck Doug, Beautiful photos! What kind of camera and housing are you shooting? Regards, Randy __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution,Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor
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14th February 2008, 06:18	#10 (permalink)
MrClive Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: cork city ireland Posts: 167	Re: Bonaire at 200 fsw -- Windjammer Wreck hi doug. great photos, well done to our wife __________________ clive
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