AccidentalReefs
Someartificialreefsarenotplanned.Thesearemadefromobjectsthatdon’tbelongintheoceanatall.Planesthatcrashorshipsthatsinksometimesbecomereefsby accident.
There’saplaceintheRedSeacalledSha’abAbuNuhas.ItisacoralreefoffthecoastofEgypt.Passingnearitbyshipcanbe dangerous.
Africa
Red Sea
ThewreckoftheGiannisDliesonits side.
Fourlargeshipwrecksarefoundhere.Theseshipsstruckthereef.Thentheysankandsliddownasteepslope.Theywerepartlyburiedinsand.TheGiannisDwassuchaship.Itwasatransportshiphaulingtimber.In1983,itaccidentallyranintothereef.Thecrewabandonedit.Astormbrokeitintopieces.Thenit sank.
Todivetherenow,you’dseeitcoveredincorals.Hawksbillturtles,glassfish,andeelsdriftby.Theseahasclaimedthisshipforits own.
CreatingaHome
TheS.S.ThistlegormisatthebottomoftheRedSea,too.ThisBritishcargoshipsankduringWorldWarII.Atthetime,theshipwasfilledwithsuppliesforsoldiers.Italsoheldweaponsofwar.Bombs.Rifles.Motorbikes.Allstilllieatthebottomofthe sea.
AscubadiverlooksatpartoftheS.S.Thistlegorm.
AFutureHope?
Howstrangetheseitemslooknow.Encrustedwithcorals.Alivewithfish.Nothingcanreplaceanaturalcoralreef.Yet,artificialreefscanmakeupforsomeoftheloss.Intime,marinecommunitiescanthriveinthese reefs.
AhawksbillturtlefeedsoncoralsattachedtothewreckoftheGiannis D.
Thisartificialreefisfullof life.
