Multi-purpose Reefs
Text Box: Naturally occurring submerged offshore reefs typically promote the development of wide sandy beaches in their lee. These beaches are less prone to severe erosion problems due to the protection provided by the reef. The beaches inside the barrier reefs of Tahiti are a classic example. The concept behind artificial submerged reefs is to mimic the results found in nature. Two multi-purpose artificial reefs have been built, one on the Gold Coast of Australia and one at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. There are several more reefs in the design phase, including one project sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Ventura County, California. The design of these reefs are based on the surfing science and engineering developed by ASR Limited of New Zealand. Their research was featured in Special Issue Number 29 of the Journal of Coastal Research as well as numerous other technical journals and popular magazines including Surfer and Outside. ASR Limited is also the principle design team for the Ron Jon’s Wave Pool currently under construction in Orlando. Multi-purpose reefs reduce localized beach erosion via three methods: The submerged reefs dissipate the energy of the incoming waves before they reach the shoreline. The reefs will rotate the waves through refraction, reducing their angle of incidence with the shoreline, which will reduce the longshore current. The reefs also promote the formation of a salient, which is a widening of the beach commonly caused by offshore submerged reefs. The reefs also act as a marine ecosystem attracting a wide variety of plants, fish, and other marine organisms. The increased biodiversity around the reefs make them a popular destination for fishing and diving.

Gold Coast Reef

Marine Life Video

Gold Coast Beach 1999

Gold Coast Beach 2002

Gold Coast Reef

Surf Video

Marine Consulting and Research