Sixteen Fathom Artificial Reef


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.


2016 Update

Computers and electronics change so fast it is hard to keep up with it. The general recommendations below should hold up pretty well even as the technology races forward.


The dive computer should be considered standard equipment. Diving with a computer will give you more bottom time and more safety margin than crude estimating with dive tables. If you are buying your first set of gear, get a computer rather than analog gauges, and you will not regret it. There is a great deal of variation in the design and operation of dive computers. Among the choices you can make are:

dive computers
  • air-integrated or not
  • conservative vs. liberal algorithms
  • violation lock-out mode
  • Nitrox-ready or not
  • wrist, console or hose mounted
  • dive logging & PC interface
  • backlighting for night diving
  • auto-on vs. manual-on