This web site is
maintained by the
Volusia County Reef Research Dive Team Inc. The site provides
current and detailed information about the county's thirteen
artificial reefs located offshore of Daytona Beach,
Florida.
The artificial reefs were started in 1980 with the
sinking of
the WW II Liberty ship, USS Mindanao. The objective was to
provide nearby artificial reefs to offset the
increasing number
of boaters visiting the local natural reefs. After more than
20
years of monitoring, it is apparent that the current
thirteen permitted artificial reef sites are providing
this anticipated relief for the natural reefs
located farther
offshore.
Click on the "Artificial Reef Locations, Updates"
page, on the
left of the screen, for updates to the April 2000
Artificial Reef
folder that lists the location of the artificial reefs.
Reef Notes" contains information about current offshore
conditions and some additional information.
The other pages of this web
site, listed on the
left of the screen, contain information for the
reef team that
also may also be of interest to boaters, fishermen and
divers.
The reef team is a nonprofit
organization of
volunteers who assist the Ponce Inlet and Port District. in
monitoring, developing and protecting the county's artificial
reefs. The team also monitors the local natural reefs for
comparison. In doing so, the team members obtain
first-hand
knowledge about the local reefs.
The team members use their boats
and
occasionally local dive shop boats to visit the
reefs. They are
reimbursed only for their fuel, air, photo and dive shop boat
expenses, when survey reports are filed with the port
district.
The surveys, underwater videos and photographs
are an important
aspects of monitoring and protecting our reefs.
The team members are experienced,
open water
divers. To insure accurate scientific data, each member has
received reef monitoring and marine life identification
information based on Florida Sea Grant and Reef Environmental
Education Foundation (REEF) monitoring techniques. Team
members
often act as mentors to help prospective members complete their
first two offshore surveys that are required for
membership.
If you are interested in joining
the team, or
if you are merely interested in protecting our offshore reefs,
you are invited to attend the team meetings. The meetings are
held every fourth Thursday, each month, except in November and
December. The meetings start 7:30 p.m. at the Police Training
Room in South Daytona City Hall complex. The City Hall is located
at 1672 S. Ridgewood Avenue, (US 1) in South Daytona.

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