Kismet Artificial Reef

100-barge 85-barge

Depth: 16 - 25 ft

Kismet Artificial Reef

Details:

Named for the nearby hamlet of Kismet on Fire Island. I didn't know that, anyway.

Reef site coordinates differ from NOAA Navigational Charts.

Not Shown:

  • 1,000 tire units
This reef is very close to land, it could even be a shore dive
side-scan sonar image of Kismet Reef, west end, click to enlarge
side-scan sonar image of Kismet Reef, east end, click to enlarge


rock reef
A hopper barge full of rock

All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.


Hydroids

Masses of hydroids adorn many of the offshore wrecks, mixed in with anemones, sponges, mussels, coral, and algae. Hydroids are the most primitive Cnidarians, closely related to Hydromedusae, and display the most even split between the sessile polyp stages and free-swimming medusa stages, which are quite small and common.

The common Pink-Hearted Hydroid Tubularia spp generally grows in rounded tufts up to 6" across. Siphonophores are free-living hydroids that are often highly venomous, although most attached forms are harmless to humans.

Printed from njscuba.net