Here's Your Chance to Participate in the Guardian of the Reef/Reef Ball Project

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DiveNewsWire

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In December, California Ships to Reefs’ (CSTR) Board approved a new project for the San Diego Underwater Recreation Area (SDURA), the Guardian of the Reef/Reef Ball Project.  A suitable site for this project has been surveyed at the Northeast corner of the SDURA.  Located approximately 2-1/2 miles northwest from the mouth of the Mission Bay Harbor, this site is ideal as the Guardian will rest in approximately 70-feet of water, overlooking the entire SDURA to the Southwest.  
“We’re very enthusiastic about partnering with Simon Morris, the Guardian of the Reef sculptor, to create a unique artificial reef in San Diego, generating additional diving and other revenues to the area,” said Dean Rewerts, CSTR’s VP of Reef Development. "Our proposal is to include approximately 1000 reef balls, to be deployed over a 10-year period.  These could be standard concrete reef balls or memorial reef balls where the cremated remains of loved ones are mixed into the concrete.  All options are being considered."
The new reefing project would bring the 13-foot Guardian of the Reef to the SDURA after being publicly displayed in the Harbor area while permits are being obtained.  The display location(s) has yet to be determined.    
In addition to the Guardian, we plan to reef up to 1000 reef balls over a 10-year period, approximately 100 per year.  Each reef ball is approximately 4 ft wide and 3 ft tall, weighing 1800 pounds and configured with holes for critters to hide from predators.  The reef balls will be placed in a configuration appropriate to creating a habitat. 
CSTR is seeking donations to complete this project with a goal of $200,000, to purchase the Guardian, reef balls and process permits required for the project.  A payment of $30,000 is required when the Guardian is commissioned.  To help raise these funds, Simon Morris is offering for sale, limited edition scaled replicas in 3 sizes.  A percentage of the proceeds will go to CSTR to help fund the project.  Sizes vary from 13” at $2,700 to 52” at $19,500.  See the flyer below for more information. 
To make a cash donation for the project, visit http://californiashipstoreefs.org and click the DONATE button.

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