The purpose of the this project was to create habitat benefitting the river environment while providing a recreational fishing destination. The total deployment took 18 barge loads to the two permitted reef sites (the Coastal Conservation Association Reef and the George Holt Reef) over a two week time frame. Below is the video story that shows much of the efforts in making this project a reality.
Read MoreNational Geographic Features TISIRI Reef Cleaning Efforts
Earlier this month TISIRI divers headed offshore Jacksonville Florida to clean-up marine reef habitats. Popular reef sites were targeted assuming they would have accumulated the most waste material over time. National Geographic published a brief video story of the day's reef cleaning efforts (watch it...
Read MoreGoliath Grouper Sighting At New Reef Site
5-31-14 TISIRI divers Joe Kistel and Larry Davis made a trip offshore to capture some updated visual content of Jacksonville Florida's three newest artificial reef sites. These three reefs lie roughly 12 miles east of Ponte Vedra Beach. During the second dive, just before returning to the surface,...
Read MoreOffshore Jacksonville Lionfish Harvest Success
4-27-14We had a successful day of harvesting invasive lionfish thanks to a dedicated team of conservation focused participants. Over 150 lionfish were removed from three different artificial reef sites offshore Jacksonville Florida. Two of the reefs visited were sunken vessels known as the Spike and the Powerful, and...
Read MoreLionfish Invasion Control Efforts News Segment
ABC/NBC news segment featuring lionfish control efforts. Unfortunately the problem does not seem to be getting any better but is in fact much worse. It is hoped lionfish harvest efforts and the associated research will help lead the way to more manageable control.
TISIRI Awards Scholarship to Jacksonville University Artist
TISIRI is excited to announce that a scholarship has recently been awarded to Jacksonville University student Ali Pordeli. Ali is a creative individual with a phenomenal artistic skill set. We at TISIRI, without a doubt, feel his illustrations rival that of those created for Hollywood productions.
Read MoreNortheast Florida Lionfish Tournament Underway
Erica Bennett of Action News recently put together a segment announcing the start of the lionfish harvest tournament currently ongoing off the coast of Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Divers are eager to capture as many lionfish as possible to help the health of the marine environment while competing to win the top tournament prizes. Fish collected will be provided to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the University of North Florida for further research into this epidemic invasion.
Read MoreCoastal Angler Features TISIRI's Buried Sea Bass Discovery
I have thought I have seen it all when it comes to sea bass and their typical behaviors but during a recent aircraft wreckage investigation, we observed something that I have never observed before. We were at a site that contained very little structure including two partially buried civilian aircraft engines. Sea bass were everywhere. When swimming from one engine to another I noticed what I thought was a dead sea bass partially buried on its side. As I approached it I noticed its one exposed eye was moving and following me. I took a few pictures and moved on not knowing what I had just observed. A little bit further in my swim another sea bass popped out of the ground right in front of me. I did not see where he came from. From then on I started paying more attention and found three or four more sea bass buried like a flounder with one eye facing up. We have never seen this before!
Read MoreDiscovery Channel Features TISIRI
The Discovery Channel recently broadcast their TISIRI underwater investigation story. Click the image below to watch the story. Further below are behind the scenes images captured throughout the production efforts. TISIRI really enjoyed working with the production crew of the Discovery Channel.
Read More"Life By Accident" Plane Wreck to Reef TV Story
TISIRI divers encounter aircraft wreckage offshore St. Augustine Florida and begin an investigation. After several scuba diving surveys a data plate is discovered that says "Property of US." The data plate is ultimately cleaned ad more information is obtained. It is the determined that the aircraft is an A7 that crashed back in 1974. The pilot, Robert Besal, was able to eject safely and serve out a decorated navy career. The TISIRI team reached out to retired Rear Admiral Besal informing him they have found his plane. Besal made the visit to St. Augustine and the TISIRI team led him out to the are where the now reef resides.
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