AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area Opportunity for a new artificial reef

If we work hard we may be able to get a wreck for San Pedro visitors to dive

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...-may-sell-QE2-to-tackle-debt-crisis.html

There is a rusting out barge grounded just north of me (where the sky divers land) that some people wanted to have drug out and sunk and the town board said absolutely not1

what are the pros and cons to having a wreck / artificial reef? not sure what to think personally...

The barge is from Larry Thorpe...many years ago...never gonna move!!

Should never pass up the opportunity, if it were to arise, to having an artificial reef built and especially if its free. Most important things to remember is LOCATION and MATERIALS.
Steel ships, barges, cars and a flat open area not a sharp dropoff, deep enough to keep materials from moving during a hurricane. The amount of dive and fishing interest can be phenomenal.
One of you retiree types down there should organize an Artificial Reef Committee(if nothing else at least you wouldnt spend so much time with one word threads)

Yes..great idea but this particular barge is way to far gone to ever move...just rusted out parts now.

Areas that don't have reef, sink things like barges and ships as artificial reef. Belize has reef. We don't need artificial reef, besides these things just move around in storms and damage what we have.
Good thoughts but na.

We have thousands of wrecks off the Jersey coast, elbert some old some puposefully sunk new in depths of less than 60 ft of water for some. Their are 50 ft steel barges and 500 ft long carrier ships - they dont move and the amount of sea life they attract is unbelievable as well as being fun and interesting dives.LOCATION is the question in your area anywhere north of the ship channel into Belize City would probably be silly and unnecessary however from their south there are a number of choice deep areas, 80 ft or better where steel wrecks could be sunk and have a positive effect on the area yet be reachable by dive operators from AC

Wrecks are fun and New Jersey has some of the most interesting.
I wish we had a good wreck to dive with the tourist.
Changa Paz tried sinking a wreck a few years back, did a great job of cleaning it up and getting it permitted.
The dive community had a good time with it for a few years then The storm moved it and it filled with sand.
The marine Reserve officials have the same opinion about it doing damage and artificial not being necessary. I doubt if we'll have any more wreck projects.
I've been looking/diving that area South of Belize City, so far strong currents , low viability and dangerous over head shipping traffic are big setbacks.
Would love to have a good wreck but just don't see it happening.

Jesse

The barge here now was not here five years ago when I moved in. There was a very long dock that needed some repair but was usable.
We often boarded our dive boats from there.
Then the barges started coming in and the third time they hit the dock it went down. We were told it would be replaced. Ha Ha Ha.
Did Larry Thorpe bring this in a couple of years ago?