Florida has the most active artificial reef program in the United States with approximately 2700 reefs deployed in 34 coastal counties. These reefs provide habitat for marine species and improve the natural environment, but the benefits extend far beyond this simple description. Analysis of the return on investment becomes complex and leads in myriad directions. Transforming a flat sandy coastal seabed into a haven for sea life leads to increased marine life populations all along the food chain and the payback accrues to all residents of the state, either directly or indirectly. The benefits to sportsmen, commercial fishermen, and charter boat operators are obvious, but investment in artificial reefs provides return on a much broader scale, even to those who never set foot on a boat. Divers and fisherman who visit the sites bring tourism dollars from around the world to spend on hotel rooms, meals, souvenirs, and much more. Large ships deployed as artificial reefs draw media attention and the publicity is invaluable. Studies have shown Florida’s artificial reef program has provided a phenomenal return and public interest is increasing around the state.
Artificial reefs come in all shapes and sizes and are created from a variety of materials. Some are purely designed as habitat and are made from discarded concrete and steel. Old bridges, used power poles, culverts, and boulders make up many reefs in our waters. Others are specifically created objects ranging from reef balls to commemorative statues. We have old army tanks, airplanes, automobiles, and boats but what really draws attention is a ship.
A shipwreck on the bottom of the sea captures the imagination of not only the divers who visit it but of the fishermen and even the residents of the nearby coastal community. Ships have names and a history. People once lived and worked aboard them. Images of the massive hulls now resting silently as barracuda and jacks glide past strike awe and spark curiosity. After many ports of call and years of history the ship now writes its final chapter as it gives back to the sea and those fortunate enough to explore it.
Florida has shipwrecks accessible to recreational divers all along the coast. Some are in shallow water and can be visited with a swim from the beach. Others lie just offshore in depths accessible from openwater limits to the advanced technical diver range. This is the story of one of the newest shipwrecks that was deployed as an artificial reef in the technical diver range.
The DM-One was built in Hamburg Germany and launched in 1966 under the name City of Rotterdam. She served under different names as a general cargo hauler and finally a grain cargo hauler until the end of her useful life. In October of 2013 this 225 foot long ship was acquired by MCAC Artificial Reef Fund to be deployed as the Hailey Glasrud artificial reef. She now rests in 188 feet seawater 8 miles off the coast of Martin County, Florida. Kerry Dillon of Sea Rover Services, Inc. was instrumental in this project and his report has been made available here.
An artificial reef project is a large and complicated task that requires months or even years of work. Projects not only require funding and permitting but involve the daunting and often perilous task of transporting and preparing a large ship for sinking. The specialized skills of dedicated people are required for success. Projects like this are ongoing all around the state and we bring you this inside story as an example of the work being done in this very worthwhile endeavor.