Artificial Reefs for Marine Life?

Typical dynamic reef location for tourism and environment

Artificial Reefs are also known as Dynamic Reefs when applied to resort and development waterfronts.

At Reef Worlds we have been leading the Dynamic Reef Revolution.

Artificial Reefs for Marine Life

Things sink. Everyone knows that. The bottom of the ocean is covered in things that have sunk throughout history. But sometimes people decide to sink things on purpose to create an artificial reef. It could be a few cinder blocks, tires, movie sets, an old freight container, or an entire train. Whatever is sunk, it is sunk with the purpose of promoting marine life.

Artificial reefs can be made in any coastal waters. When an artificial reef is sunk, it makes a great location for species like algae, barnacles, corals, and oysters to attach and make a new home. Over time a lively reef forms and provides great fishing locations, idyllic scuba diving sites, and superb marine habitats.

Unfortunately around the world coral reefs are suffering. Global warming, over fishing, pollution, rising sea level, inexperienced divers, and much more are quickly killing the ecologically fragile and diverse reefs. Artificial reefs are a good way to help these abused reefs regenerate because they relieve stress from reefs that are overwhelmed by human and sea life impact. Someday those abused reefs may thrive again.

Artificial reefs help attract divers away from the fragile ecosystems of natural coral reefs by providing them with new alternative reefs to explore. Artificial reefs are often created on shipwrecks; a type of diving that already is alluring for most divers. In fact, many old Naval ships, after they are decommissioned, are now being sunk to create artificial reefs and promote marine life. It’s actually more politically, environmentally, and economically cheaper to do this than take the ships apart for scraps.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, even gives guidelines on how to prepare your boat, car, or plane if you want to sink it and make an artificial reef. Several privately owned companies are creating jobs specifically for this niche market.

Artificial reefs are great way to promote aquatic life, but as with everything there are always people who oppose new ideas. The naysayers feel there is no major marine life benefit and that artificial reefs only pollute the ocean.

So next time you’re enjoying diving on a sunken James Bond plane wreck in the Bahamas, a sunken train in Thailand, or an underwater tire world in Florida, remember they aren’t natural reefs but they’re awesome diving.

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