Delaware Artificial Reefs

Delaware Artificial Reefs

Coverage of Delaware is restricted to just those sites that are in the ocean. Siting reefs has been tricky for Delaware, as they must be kept clear of the shipping lanes. This doesn't leave a lot of places that are both located in usefully deep water and a convenient distance from shore.

Delaware Artificial Reef Charts

Twin Capes
Shearwater
Shearwater
USS Radford
USS Radford
Gregory Poole
YO-93
USCG Tamaroa
two tugboats
two tugboats
Frieda Marie
American Glory
American Glory

Delaware Artificial Reef Sites

Delaware has eight permitted reefs in the Delaware Bay, and another way offshore that is undeveloped and will likely stay that way.

Site #8 has a 70' tugboat "Golden Eagle". Site #6 has a 120' barge. Site #1 has a 40' pilot boat. Other than that, the Delaware Bay reefs are all concrete rubble.


Delaware #11 Artificial Reef

Depth: 70-90 ft


DelJerseyLand Inshore Artificial Reef

Depth: 120-140 ft [download]


Delaware #10 Artificial Reef

Depth: 55-65 ft



M60 tanks reef
M60 tanks undergo a thorough cleaning before use as reefs

The Artificial Reef Program used four types of obsolete Army armored vehicles as artificial reef materials off the New Jersey coast. These were cleaned at local military bases, loaded onto barges for transport, and pushed off at their final destination. Once the Army had disposed of its excess inventory, the program ceased, around 1999. The Artificial Reef Program has sunk almost 400 tanks altogether, far too many to list them here in this website.



Rudderfish

Seriola zonata

Size
to 24"

Habitat
Coastal surface waters, congregating around any floating objects

Description
Juveniles ( shown, up to 12" ) are attractively patterned with six or seven dark bars; these are lost in adults, which are also much slimmer. Schools of small Rudderfish can often be found around boats, and even around divers hanging on the anchor line. Pilotfish are similar, but larger and retain dark bars throughout life.

Printed from njscuba.net