Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

First ever artificial reef is "sunk" in Europe by Project A.W.A.R.E. German First ever artificial reef is "sunk" in Europe by Project A.W.A.R.E. Project A.W.A.R.E. was founded by PADI over 10 years ago. PADI issues around 1'000'000 certifications per year and continues to be the worlds leading organization in recreational diving. Project A.W.A.R.E. helps to ensure the protection of our underwater environment and through it's actions and information divers and non- divers become more aware of the necessity to care for the underwater world. Recently Project A.W.A.R.E. has been involved with the creation of artificial reefs. There are over 1'500 saltwater projects in the world with which over 100'000 artificial reefs have been built. "Reef- Ball" is one such Project A.W.A.R.E., and now the first European freshwater "Reef- Ball" project has been launched in Wädenswil on the lake of Zürich. The well known underwater photographer and manager of Project A.W.A.R.E. Kurt Amsler was once again the forerunner for this European mission. Unfortunately it is a known fact that the natural habitat of fish, crabs and plants is diminishing from year to year in the European lakes. For many years this lakes have been used as "dumping" grounds for waste and therefore the more sensitive habitats have been affected, weakened or even damaged. In many shore regions there are hardly any stone or rock formations left and in most places the reeds have vanished completely, because of this changes important habitats for fish and other creatures are now missing. With this first artificial reef created at Wädenswil on the lake of Zürich a new home for the creatures of the underwater world has been created. Already after a few days some fish will find new living spaces and shelter from enemies within this reef. Very soon migrating mussels, freshwater sponge, crabs and plants will settle. With this "Reef- Balls" donated by Project A.W.A.R.E. a substitute home has been created. These reefs also strengthen the muddy floors of our lakes. All these artificial reefs which where built in saltwater have been very successful world-wide. Only this pilotproject from Project A.W.A.R.E. will show if these reefs can be also successful in fresh water......

REEF BALLS Negli ultimi tempi abbiamo parlato spesso del nostro progetto ?Reef Ball?. Un progetto che nasce con l?obiettivo di creare nuovi ambienti adatti ad accogliere la vita sottomarina. La notorietà che questa iniziativa conferisce ai centri subacquei e ai siti, nel momento in cui le ?Reef Balls ? vengono collocate in acqua, rappresenta uno strumento che ci consente di sensibilizzare la popolazione in misura sempre maggiore nei confronti della salvaguardia delle acque e di migliorare la comprensione dell ?importanza della protezione della vita acquatica. Reef di questo tipo, costituiti da circa 26 o più ?Reef Balls? (una sorta di grossi igloo di cemento pieni di buchi), entro tempi brevissimi si popolano di creature sottomarine. Il bilancio del 2001 è il collocamento ottimamente riuscito di ben sette reefs. Per l'anno 2002 è prevista una serie di grandi progetti su cui continueremo ad informarvi. Insomma, l?iniziativa è una vero e proprio ?bocconcino? non solo per i subacquei, ma anche per le istituzioni scientifiche....