Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

We deployed 30 Reef Balls at Playa Dzul Ha, Cozumel para el Parque Marino de Arrecifes Cozumel. Clients were "Reef Keepers", who watch, protect, control and will try to rehabilitate the coral reef of Cozumel. Reef Keepers are well trained created by the goverment. Reef Ball units are their pilot project. They are interested in coral propagation Reef Ball training and we are working with them to make this happen within their budget and permiting constrants. As a deployment report Reef Ball Mexico delivered 32 units (2 mini bay balls more than contracted) and deployed 30 units. 4 pallets, 8 bay balls and 18 minibays. Unfortunatley 2 minibay ball sized Reef Balls were broken due to human error. Reef Ball Mexico provided the client with 90 pices of 45cm of 5/8 fiberglass rebars. Units were prepared for 3 holes, 45 degrees each for the anchors at the base. The seabottom was a very hard rock. 2 Anchors were placed in each Reef Ball instead of 3 as the client's hydrolyic drill was not working the day of deployment and we used our backup pnematic drill which was much slower and required 10 minutes per drill whole. The client plans to return with the hydrolyic drill once fixed to complete the anchoring.

After the initial phase where 32 Reef Balls were placed, Owners of the Money Bar worked with Reef Ball Mexico to make a donation to increase the number of units, to provide a place for training/deployments and to extend the snorkeling area to in front of their property where snorkelers to the park generally end their snorkels for showers and shade. Reef Ball Mexico contacted the Marine Park that was already planning to do additional Reef Balls too and together they worked out a way to combining the building and deploying so that everyone got more units that originally budgeted. Since this larger project attracted attention from the Reef Ball Foundation's Coral Team, Reef Ball Mexico and Reef Ball Foundation worked out funding to offer the project international expert training to the Cozumel Marine Park staff for asexual coral reproduction and planting from the Reef Ball Foundation's Coral Team. Reef Ball Mexico provided hotel and food for the international experts and Coral Team volunteers and the experts volunteered their time. During the project, the Reef Ball Coral Team certified park staff from both Cozumel and Cancun Marine Parks as well as other local and international volunteers to Level II Coral Propagation & Planting Speciallists. Because both projects share the same geographical location and were performed at the same time we have group this project photos as a single project. However, we would like to offer our special thanks to The Marine Park, The Money Bar (Comer Reality), Reef Ball Mexico & Reef Ball Coral Team which all contributed fully with their respective project roles.