Artificial Reef Sites Information
www.volusiareefs.org
8/30/2010 updates to the April 2000 Port Authority pamphlet
(To print these pages, select "File", then "Print" on the Menu Bar)

* Loran C signals are no longer available in our area 

Site 1 is 10.8  nm  from the inlet.  The first culverts were placed on the center of the site in 1990.  The culverts and barge are popular fishing sites. Both are also excellent locations to see invertebrates not usually found in keys and south Florida. 

The 195ft. steel  barge, Argoil is east of  the center culverts.  It is intact and upright.

If seas are calm, look for two dozen  Reef Balls, south of the center culverts. Large seabass are often around the Reef Balls.

Site 1 Photos, Argoil, Reef Balls

In July of 2010, 500 tons of clean concrete culverts were  placed on south part of site. The pile is approx 17 ft high. The depth is 74 ft. 

Site 4 is 17 nm northeast of the inlet. The first culverts were deposited near the center of the site in 1989. Additional deposits were made in 1992. Large masses of telesto and other soft corals are growing on the culverts. The soft corals and a variety of fish make Site 4 an excellent underwater photography and fishing site. Site 4 is often one of the first sites to clear after upwelling of cold, dirty water or after storms.


The Maxine D is a 165 ft. ship. She was placed on the site in 1994 and remains upright and intact. She lies in a general N-S direction.Maxine D. Photo

Antilles Star Photo
The Antilles Star was placed on Site 4 south of the Maxine D on 6/29/04. On sinking she was lying on her side. After the hurricanes in 2004, she is almost upright . Click to here to see a  survey

Site 5 is just east of Ponce Inlet. Clean material from the old Port Orange bridge and the New Smyrna Beach bridges were deposited on the site starting in 1990. Grouper, sea bass, flounder, mangrove snapper and variety of colorful soft corals are on the site. Because the site is only about 5 nautical miles from the inlet, visibility may be 10 only feet near low tide. However in the summer, before and after cold water upwelling or later in the fall, after the huricanes have passsed, visibility is sometimes much better..

Site 5 Photo, 2002 Deposit

1996- The USN Intruder Planes are very scattered. Look a short distance to the southeast and to the east of the ship for the first few planes.

SITE 10
1998 Center pile -concrete from DOT
Lat/Long: (GPS)
29°21 .46'N, 80°49.77'W
Loran C: 44570.4 - 61990.2*

2003 - Two large piles of concrete culverts

NE pile
Lat/Long (GPS)
29°21. 56' N, 80° 49 .65 W.
Loran C: 44570.4,619989.1*

SE pile
Lat/Long : (GPS)
29° 21.35' N, 80° 49.67W.
Loran C: 44568.8,619989.9*

2010 - NW  pile
Lat/Long (GPS)

29°21.638'N,  80°49.966'W

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Site 11  is 15 nm NE of the inlet. The first deposits were placed on the site in June 2001. Four large piles of culverts were placed 500 ft. to the NE, NW, SW and SE of the 20 feet high center pile. Do not anchor within in the piles. You may not be able to retrieve your anchor. The site has a variety of  fish and soft corals.

Site 11 Photo , 2001 Deposit.

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The GPS latitude and longitude, (L/L) and LORAN C TD's listed above were determined using separate GPS and LORAN units. The WGS - 84 datum setting were used on WAAS  on regular GPS units. The L/L GPS measurements were made after the GPS selective availability signal was turned off in May 2000. Loran C signals are no longer available in our area.

If you use GPS to navigate, use the GPS L/L's listed above. Do not use L/L readings calculated by your GPS unit, from LORAN TDs. The WGS-84 datum setting should be set on your GPS unit. If you use DGPS, use the datum setting recommended by the manufacturer of your unit.

When using the above L/L  coordinates, the  L/L display should be set for degrees and parts of minutes, not seconds. On most GPS units, the 0.00x part of the Lat/Long display can change as much as 0.006 min when you have not moved.

It is not unusual to take 15-30 minutes to locate a deposit. Once you are able to verify the location using your bottom sounder, log your GPS L/L for future use.

If you think any the above listed numbers are not correct,you can help by telling us what
readings you believe to be correct. Click on "E Mail us" below.

Sketch of Reef Site Locations

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