Name of Ship: Mairi Bahn / 3 Masted Clipper Ship

Built: Glasgow, Scotland / 1874

Weight / Length:1386 Tons / 239 Feet Long / 37 foot Beam

Sank: December 1912

Like the famous Cutty Sark, she was one of the fastest ships of her day. She sailed all around the world and stopped in many ports in India, France and the Caribbean. Never the less, she had a reputation for being a "bad luck" ship.....as she had a mutiny, cholera outbreak, fires and other travails over the years. On her last voyage in 1912, she sailed from Italy to Trinidad carrying a load of wine, olive oil, clothing and other goods. While the plan orignally was for her to return to France after Trinidad, she instead picked up load of asphalt for delivery to South America. On her way she pulled into the Kralendijk Harbor, but due to her crews reputation for being a rowdy bunch (smile), she was forced to leave the harbor on Dec. 7th. On her way north she somehow managed to run a ground on the reef near where the BOPEC facility is today. The crew and captain abandoned ship and the ship was then looted over the next year. Later in 1913, a hurricane finshed her off by dislodging her off the reef, causing her to roll over and down the reef slope where she rests today at 200 feet.

It is with great regret that I must inform you that one of Bonaire's truly great dives has now been made off limits by the owners of BOPEC. This is very unfortunate, as Bonaire's coast line diving is becoming more and more restricted as private owners block access to various sites. This is truly an ominous trend...one that I hope does not continue!

Wishing you the best in Tech Diving .....

Brad Louth