6-27-11

TISIRI and Jacksonville Reef Research team (JRRT) divers visited this Jacksonville artificial reef that was deployed in August of 2009. The video and pictures below show the condition of the reef after only 2 years of evolution.

This concrete culvert artificial reef is located at a permitted reef area called "Floyd's Folly" aka FF. The GPS coordinates are 30° 10.034′ N, 81° 09.322′ W. Depth at this site is around 73 feet.

Divers reported a diversity of marine life including bait-fish, tomtates, sea-bass, sheep head, flounder, and even a large nurse shark. The concrete structure showed signs of encrusting invertebrate life such as coralline algae, tunicates, sponge, and anemones.

Flounder were abundant in the sand near the reef structure and Dan Hughes of the JRRT was able to harvest one with only his hands and knife.

Dive conditions were good with sea floor visability of about 20 feet, sea floor temp around 75°, and no to slight current observed.

-For more about this reef click here.

-For a look at this reef one year after its creation click here.