The waters off Panama City Beach in Florida, USA will soon have a new attraction for divers to visit.
Using a US$60,000/52,592 Euro grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, local officials deployed five new “super reefs” off the coast of Panama City Beach last month.
Standing 18 feet/5.5 meters tall, weighing 18 tons/16 metric tons and placed about 74 feet/22.6 meters below the surface, these limestone reefs will create an ecosystem and habitat for fish, crabs, lobsters and more, and adding another artificial reef for divers and fisherman to enjoy.
Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe says:
“The history of diving in Panama City Beach goes deep — all U.S. military divers learn to dive here, and we’re home to numerous artificial reefs. We’re actually known as the Wreck Diving Capital of the South. These new super reefs will be another great feature for both fishermen and divers to take advantage of.”
Walter Marine deployed the five reefs 3 miles/4.8 kilometers south of the Russell-Fields Pier, and just under 10 miles/16km from the St. Andrews Bay pass.
