Smithtown Artificial Reef

Smithtown Artificial Reef

Depth: 30 - 40 ft
1.6 nautical miles northwest of Stony Brook Harbor

Smithtown Artificial Reef

Not Shown:

  • 22,000 automobile tires

the big one goes down
Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
38 - 40 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
190’ wood 1979 40°55.977'
-73°10.921'
350’ steel 1981 40°55.943'
-73°10.955'
270’ wood 1982 40°55.876'
-73°11.111'
340’ steel 1984 40°55.991'
-73°10.950'
80’ wood 1984 40°55.972'
-73°10.872'
80’ steel (226) 2021 40°55.970'
-73°11.048'

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.



Northern Coral
Astrangia danae

Most tropical corals contain photosynthetic algae which provide a substantial amount of the polyp's food. White Encrusting Coral, also known as Northern Stony or Star Coral, contains no such algae and therefore can survive the low light conditions and temperatures of the North Atlantic where other corals would die. Instead, it is a filter-feeder, much like an anemone.

Corals are similar to anemones in many ways. Each coral polyp is like an anemone in a stony cup. Many corals are colonial ( as are some anemones ) sharing a single merged body among many polyps.

Printed from njscuba.net