DocWong
Contributor
Great news! We are making significant headway in our efforts to reef ships in Northern California!
Two years ago when NCOF(Northern California Oceans Foundation) was formed, my strategy was to reef ships anywhere beneficial to Northern California SCUBA divers, the environment and local economies. I wanted to help create a sustainable method of economic development for the involved communities. Since I dive frequently in the Monterey/Carmel area, having a ship-based artificial reef in Monterey Bay has been a top priority for me. However, I realized early on that this was a big task with the known obstacle of getting the widespread support from certain key people and organizations in the area.
The good news on getting a ship reefed in Monterey Bay is that we are getting more and more federal support! We're moving forward with our permit application with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
So, the strategy from the beginning was to do a highly successful ship reefing in another area such as Eureka, Ft. Bragg/Mendocino or San Luis Obispo, as an example of the positive outcomes of such a project. This example would then showcase what can be done, its benefits and garner further key support for our project in Monterey Bay. The key ingredients for a successful ship reefing, as shown with the Spiegel Grove, Vandenberg and the Oriskany in Florida, was support from all sectors. In these reefings there were local, state and federal political support. Florida knows well the benefits of artificial reefs in their waters. It means sustainable economic development thru eco-tourism or SCUBA diving. When I dove with friends in south Florida, I dove numerous wrecks, including the Spiegel Grove, Duane and Bibb, plus over 100 more that I didn't get to dive on. I'll slowly go back and eventually dive them all!
So, over the last 2 years, in addition to our continued efforts in Monterey, we've investigated Eureka, Ft. Bragg and San Luis Obispo for reefing a ship. While we were well received in Eureka and Ft. Bragg, not all the pieces of the puzzle were in place. However, when we approached San Luis Obispo, the enthusiasm from all sectors -- divers, politicians and business was so overwhelming that we knew we had the green light to proceed. In only a short period of time (6-1/2 months work) the City of Morro Bay has already passed a resolution in support of artificial reefing in their waters!
In the meantime, we are continuing to get our permit application completed with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It's a significant project and if you have any inkling of helping out on that project, we do need more volunteers to work on that.
So, the strategy for us getting a ship reefed in Monterey is moving forward, as it has been for the last 2 years, which it to continue to work on getting a ship reefed in Monterey, which will take longer, and get another ship reefed in another area, close to home that will result in a very successful sinking, creating an example to Monterey at large, on what can be done and why.
Working our plan and strategy, we will create our ship in Monterey. She will rest peacefully upright out from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with recreational SCUBA diving on the ship in the 70 feet to 110 feet range. The ship we have in mind is 535 feet long, almost twice the size of the Yukon in San Diego.
So, SLO is moving full steam ahead and I'm looking forward to us "pushing the button" that sends a ship to the bottom where generations of divers will continue to enjoy her!
Two years ago when NCOF(Northern California Oceans Foundation) was formed, my strategy was to reef ships anywhere beneficial to Northern California SCUBA divers, the environment and local economies. I wanted to help create a sustainable method of economic development for the involved communities. Since I dive frequently in the Monterey/Carmel area, having a ship-based artificial reef in Monterey Bay has been a top priority for me. However, I realized early on that this was a big task with the known obstacle of getting the widespread support from certain key people and organizations in the area.
The good news on getting a ship reefed in Monterey Bay is that we are getting more and more federal support! We're moving forward with our permit application with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
So, the strategy from the beginning was to do a highly successful ship reefing in another area such as Eureka, Ft. Bragg/Mendocino or San Luis Obispo, as an example of the positive outcomes of such a project. This example would then showcase what can be done, its benefits and garner further key support for our project in Monterey Bay. The key ingredients for a successful ship reefing, as shown with the Spiegel Grove, Vandenberg and the Oriskany in Florida, was support from all sectors. In these reefings there were local, state and federal political support. Florida knows well the benefits of artificial reefs in their waters. It means sustainable economic development thru eco-tourism or SCUBA diving. When I dove with friends in south Florida, I dove numerous wrecks, including the Spiegel Grove, Duane and Bibb, plus over 100 more that I didn't get to dive on. I'll slowly go back and eventually dive them all!
So, over the last 2 years, in addition to our continued efforts in Monterey, we've investigated Eureka, Ft. Bragg and San Luis Obispo for reefing a ship. While we were well received in Eureka and Ft. Bragg, not all the pieces of the puzzle were in place. However, when we approached San Luis Obispo, the enthusiasm from all sectors -- divers, politicians and business was so overwhelming that we knew we had the green light to proceed. In only a short period of time (6-1/2 months work) the City of Morro Bay has already passed a resolution in support of artificial reefing in their waters!
In the meantime, we are continuing to get our permit application completed with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It's a significant project and if you have any inkling of helping out on that project, we do need more volunteers to work on that.
So, the strategy for us getting a ship reefed in Monterey is moving forward, as it has been for the last 2 years, which it to continue to work on getting a ship reefed in Monterey, which will take longer, and get another ship reefed in another area, close to home that will result in a very successful sinking, creating an example to Monterey at large, on what can be done and why.
Working our plan and strategy, we will create our ship in Monterey. She will rest peacefully upright out from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with recreational SCUBA diving on the ship in the 70 feet to 110 feet range. The ship we have in mind is 535 feet long, almost twice the size of the Yukon in San Diego.
So, SLO is moving full steam ahead and I'm looking forward to us "pushing the button" that sends a ship to the bottom where generations of divers will continue to enjoy her!
