Hempstead Artificial Reef

Depth: 50-70 ft
Lucisaura    Wards Island drydock      DB-1         dredge barges Navy barge   barge        unknown      Jane

Depth: 50 - 72 ft

Hempstead Artificial Reef


Redbird Subway Car - in service

There is a great deal of controversy over the use of subway cars as artificial reefs. There shouldn't be. Subway cars are fish condos. They are the perfect size and shape to provide homes for all sorts of fishes, as well as large attachment areas for other organisms. The fact that they come complete with large door and window openings is even better. Most reef materials, such as ships and barges, improve with age because they open up, allowing easier access to the interior. Indeed, some of the most barren reefs I have seen are those that are completely intact, since they offer little shelter.


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.


Type:
artificial reef, tugboat, USA
Built:
1939 Wilmington DE USA
Specs:
( 70x18 ft ) 65 tons
Sunk:
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - Hempstead Artificial Reef
Depth:
GPS:
40°31.030' -73°31.800'


DB-1
Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
50 - 72 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
115 ft steel 40°31.145'
-73°31.736'
100 ft wood
drydock
1990 40°31.504'
-73°31.914'
Navy 110 ft steel 1993 40°31.077'
-73°31.476'
40 ft steel
dredge
Wednesday
Oct 4, 2000
40°31.010'
-73°32.501'
40 ft steel
dredge
Wednesday
Oct 4, 2000
40°31.010'
-73°32.501'
DB-1 75 ft steel
derrick
Friday
Aug 10, 2018
40°30.971'
-73°32.971'

Wards Island and sister Tenkenas at Wards Island during their brief stint as ferries
Type:
artificial reef, ferry, USA
Built:
1929 - Electric Boat Company, Groton CT USA
Specs:
( 101 x 32 ft )
Sunk:
Friday August 10, 2018 - Hempstead Artificial Reef
Depth:
GPS:
40°30.994' -73°32.955'

Sea Raven

Hemitripterus americanus

Size
to 25" and 7 lbs.

Description:
The fleshy tabs around the head and ragged-looking dorsal fin are identifying characteristics of Scorpionfish like the Sea Raven. The eye is also very strange looking. These fishes prefer cooler waters and disappear when it warms up. Tropical and Pacific relatives including the introduced Lionfish have poisonous spines, but our species is harmless. Some people eat them, but I find them to be among the most interesting and obliging photo subjects in our waters.

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