Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

The first stop of the Reef Ball tours in the following year was the region of Bosmolenplas. It is no coincidence that the first site beyond Switzerland was in the Netherlands. The Dutch DCs are in general very conscious about environmental issues and eager to get involved. Geert Huyskens, the owner of the DC ?Aegir-Stingray?, was inspired by our presentation at the fair ?Boot? in Düsseldorf/ Germany and recognized particularly the qualities of the concept in case of lifeless areas. Although the gravel pits in the waters of Bosmolenplas were just the place for the concept?s unique possibilities to unfold, the government officials were not easily convinced about the idea. But when the official immersion of the 50 Reef Balls was celebrated joyfully on June 23, the mayor of the community of Heel, Mr. Van Soest, insisted on uncovering and sinking the Reef Balls himself. From there divers of the ?Stingray Diver Society? took over and transported the forms to the actual position. To make sure the ordinary diving activities were not disturbed and a maximum of security was guaranteed, the event had begun in the late afternoon.

Septemeber, 2004

As mentioned the Dutch are very enthusiastic, so the project in the south-western province of Zeeland turned out to be a major one. Bastian Mathijsen from the DC ?Duikzentrum de Kabbelaar? launched the idea at the Dutch Dive Show early 2001, to create a cooperation of several DCs to increase the quantity of the forms. His plan to build three different reefs, each consisting of 100 moulds, was supported by two other DCs, the ?De Grevelingen? and the ?Waterworld?. When the national divers association, The Nederlandse Onderwatersport Bond, volunteered to arrange for financial and technical support from the Dutch Government all problems were solved. A small harbour in the Grevelingen Sea offered ideal building conditions. All 300 Reef Balls were built within six weeks, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of everybody. Also a so called Dive Mobile came in very handy, as it prevented everybody from being inhibited by the permanent rain. Bastian Mathijsen?s reef was the first one to be immerged on October 11. He chose his home waters of the Sharendyke as site of settlement and even mustered the Royal Army to place the numerous Reef Balls. The settlement of the 200 remaining forms is scheduled for the spring of 2002 in the region of ?De Grevelingen?.