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New Artificial Reefs Sunk Around the Globe

By Brooke Morton | Published On November 1, 2014
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New Artificial Reefs Sunk Around the Globe

Lady Thetis, Limassol, Cyprus

On Feb. 22, the south coast of Cyprus gained the 99-foot long pleasure cruiser, Lady Thetis. The vessel sits at an average depth of 70 feet, making it accessible to most divers. The wheel and engine remain, but the main deck’s numerous windows have been removed, as have all other hazards; it’s a great training ground for penetration. “It’s quite atmospheric — so much light shines in through all the windows,” says Peter Crane, owner of Scuba Tech Divers, based on the island.

Constandis, Limassol, Cyprus

Also downed on Feb. 22, as part of the Cyprus Reef Programme, was the Constandis, a bottom-trawling fishing vessel hailing from Russia. It’s now at a depth of 79 feet and starting to foster populations of damselfish, sea bream, rainbow wrasse and jacks. “It’ll take a while for tons of fish to show up,” says Crane. “Until then, the engine is nicest for photography.”

H.T.M.S. Kledkaeo, Phi Phi, Thailand

The second-biggest vessel sunk in 2014, H.T.M.S. Kledkaeo, aka AKS-861, served nearly 60 years as a supply ship in the Royal Thai Navy before its March 19 sinking off Ko Phi Phi Leh island in Thailand. The 155-foot vessel in 39 to 85 feet of water offers easy access to cargo holds, stairwells, cabins and corridors and is now home to trevally, grouper, barracuda, squid and lionfish. Note that its position is prone to currents, making it a slightly more advanced dive.

Super reefs, Mexico City Beach, Florida

On April 1, six super reefs — that is, concrete-and-limestone manmade structures designed to mimic actual reefs — were deployed 14 nautical miles from Florida’s Mexico Beach Canal, 30 minutes by car east of Panama City. Built by Walter Marine, each pyramidal habitat stands 17 to 25 feet tall and weighs up to 18 tons. The height of the structures combined with their placement in 85 to 104 feet of water is aimed to attract pelagic species, such as amberjack, red snapper and grouper.

Hailey Glasrud, Stuart, Florida

Renamed Hailey Glasrud as per the request of the reef project’s biggest donor, this 220-foot freighter, formerly known as the DM-ONE, now sits off the coast of Stuart, Florida, as of April 24. It’s primarily aimed at technical divers and regenerating fish populations; find the smokestack at 103 feet and the sand at 186 feet.

Laboe, Paphos, Cyprus

Cyprus’ newest artificial reef can be found slightly more than a mile offshore from Paphos, a city on the island’s western coast. Sunk to 80 feet on June 22, Laboe is an 82-foot fishing vessel__ dating to pre-World War II. It’s been cleaned of windows and doors to make it safe for swimming though, but much of the fishing instrumentation remains.

Voodoo jets, Panama City Beach, Florida

On June 27, Panama City Beach gained two F101 Voodoo Air Force jets as artificial reefs. Both lie 76 feet beneath the surface; one is upright as planned, and the other flipped during the underwater landing. Patrick Green, owner of Panama City Diving, swam the wrecks five minutes after sinking and found tomtates and red snapper. Two months later, he reports seeing baby grouper, almaco jacks and 3-foot amberjack, On the planes’ ability to create new habitat, he says, “I never expected it to work that fast.”

Artificial Reefs like this one pictured here help promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom.

Courtesy shutterstock.com

Lady Thetis, Limassol, Cyprus

On Feb. 22, the south coast of Cyprus gained the 99-foot long pleasure cruiser, Lady Thetis. The vessel sits at an average depth of 70 feet, making it accessible to most divers. The wheel and engine remain, but the main deck’s numerous windows have been removed, as have all other hazards; it’s a great training ground for penetration. “It’s quite atmospheric — so much light shines in through all the windows,” says Peter Crane, owner of Scuba Tech Divers, based on the island.

Limassol has become home to two new artificial reefs. The Lady Thetis and the Constandis.

Courtesy shutterstock.com

Constandis, Limassol, Cyprus

Also downed on Feb. 22, as part of the Cyprus Reef Programme, was the Constandis, a bottom-trawling fishing vessel hailing from Russia. It’s now at a depth of 79 feet and starting to foster populations of damselfish, sea bream, rainbow wrasse and jacks. “It’ll take a while for tons of fish to show up,” says Crane. “Until then, the engine is nicest for photography.”

On June 27, Panama City Beach gained two F101 Voodoo Air Force jets as artificial reefs.

Courtesy shutterstock.com

H.T.M.S. Kledkaeo, Phi Phi, Thailand

The second-biggest vessel sunk in 2014, H.T.M.S. Kledkaeo, aka AKS-861, served nearly 60 years as a supply ship in the Royal Thai Navy before its March 19 sinking off Ko Phi Phi Leh island in Thailand. The 155-foot vessel in 39 to 85 feet of water offers easy access to cargo holds, stairwells, cabins and corridors and is now home to trevally, grouper, barracuda, squid and lionfish. Note that its position is prone to currents, making it a slightly more advanced dive.

The second-biggest vessel sunk in 2014, H.T.M.S. Kledkaeo, aka AKS-861, served nearly 60 years as a supply ship in the Royal Thai Navy before its March 19 sinking off Ko Phi Phi Leh island in Thailand.

Courtesy shutterstock.com

Super reefs, Mexico City Beach, Florida

On April 1, six super reefs — that is, concrete-and-limestone manmade structures designed to mimic actual reefs — were deployed 14 nautical miles from Florida’s Mexico Beach Canal, 30 minutes by car east of Panama City. Built by Walter Marine, each pyramidal habitat stands 17 to 25 feet tall and weighs up to 18 tons. The height of the structures combined with their placement in 85 to 104 feet of water is aimed to attract pelagic species, such as amberjack, red snapper and grouper.

Hailey Glasrud, Stuart, Florida

Renamed Hailey Glasrud as per the request of the reef project’s biggest donor, this 220-foot freighter, formerly known as the DM-ONE, now sits off the coast of Stuart, Florida, as of April 24. It’s primarily aimed at technical divers and regenerating fish populations; find the smokestack at 103 feet and the sand at 186 feet.

Laboe, Paphos, Cyprus

Cyprus’ newest artificial reef can be found slightly more than a mile offshore from Paphos, a city on the island’s western coast. Sunk to 80 feet on June 22, Laboe is an 82-foot fishing vessel__ dating to pre-World War II. It’s been cleaned of windows and doors to make it safe for swimming though, but much of the fishing instrumentation remains.

Voodoo jets, Panama City Beach, Florida

On June 27, Panama City Beach gained two F101 Voodoo Air Force jets as artificial reefs. Both lie 76 feet beneath the surface; one is upright as planned, and the other flipped during the underwater landing. Patrick Green, owner of Panama City Diving, swam the wrecks five minutes after sinking and found tomtates and red snapper. Two months later, he reports seeing baby grouper, almaco jacks and 3-foot amberjack, On the planes’ ability to create new habitat, he says, “I never expected it to work that fast.”