PADI Aware & PADI Europe Reef Ball Project
26 Reef Balls were deployed in Lake Zurich last week by PADI Aware foundations, PADI Europe, Bar Sport (a PADI 5 star dive center). Kurt Amsler, a renown world underwater photographer, managed the project and Jack Lavanchy, soon to be accepted into the Diving Hall of Fame, was the patron for the project. A matching grant was provided by the Reef Ball Foundation, Inc. PADI Aware plans to offer the use of 26 Reef Ball molds of various sizes to any PADI Europe 4 or 5 star Dive Center that can use them in a project that is beneficial to the environment and to scuba diving. The purpose of the initial project was to work out protocols for using this large number and variety of molds by Diving instructors and volunteers primarily for use in freshwater lakes.
The Foundation Project A.W.A.R.E. is proud that its pilot project in Wädenswil, a small village on the borders of Lake Zurich, coincided to the first ever to be conducted in Europe. It was very considerate of Todd Barber and Kathy Kirbo from the Reef Ball Foundation and Prof. Dr. Richard Spieler to honour the event by coming all the way from the United States to support us with their invaluable expertise.
Kurt Amsler, both project adviser of the foundation and well-known underwater photographer, and the DC ?Baer Sports? formed the organisation committee. They were greatly supported by many volunteers as well as local entrepreneurs that provided them with the necessary logistics.
The two reefs each consisting of 30 Reef Balls were officially immerged in September 2000. The memorable and festive event was covered by many media representatives from local and national newspapers, radio and television stations.
Only after 48 hours the first signs of life were observed and within three months the cement was completely covered with underwater flora. Despite this early success the forms had to be replaced after half a year, because the site originally chosen proved to be not favourable for the development. The change has allowed a very gratifying and promising evolution of the habitat ever since.
All images are copyrighted 1993-2007 (C) by Reef Ball Foundation, Inc. and by the original photographers. High resolution versions of most newer images are available by emailing your request to reefball@reefball.com. (please provide the URL of the photo requested) Use of images requires a link to www.reefball.org crediting Reef Ball Foundation as the photo source. Please email any photos you have with Reef Ball images to us and we will post in this photo database. Please indicate if you are freely sharing the photos or wish to retain your original copyrights and we will note that when posted.