Atlantic Beach Artificial Reef

Fran S        75-barge      80-barge      100-barge     140-barge     85-barge      150-barge     150-wood-barge

Depth: 55 - 64 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.


80 ft steel barge
Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
55 - 64 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
80 ft steel 40°31.884'
-73°43.297'
85 ft steel 40°31.942'
-73°42.894'
100 ft steel 40°31.631'
-73°43.029'
140 ft steel 40°31.736'
-73°42.736'
150 ft steel 40°31.903'
-73°43.166'
150 ft wood 40°31.762'
-73°43.306'
75 ft steel Thursday
Nov 14, 2019
40°31.604'
-73°43.611'

Fran S reef
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat
Built:
1899
Specs:
( 84 ft )
Sunk:
early 1970s - Atlantic Beach Reef
Depth:
80 ft
GPS:
40°31.711' -73°43.438'

sank during dredging operations

later raised, moved, and re-sunk as part of reef

intact, upright


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.


Cladophera
Cladophera
Sea Lettuce
Ulva or Sea Lettuce
Hollow Green Weed
Enteromorpha or Hollow Green Weed
Green Algae

Green algae take many forms, some of which superficially resemble grass and other plants. Cladophora grows in tufts 3"-12" in size. Sea Lettuce - Ulva lactuca - is a green algae that grows in large sheets up to 36" like tissue paper. Small specimens are attached, but large ones are usually found drifting. It is edible and extremely common in protected waters. Enteromorpha algae superficially resembles eelgrass, and like eelgrass may also grow in thick beds.

Printed from njscuba.net