Eric Rieseberg News Today

Weather dictates much of what we are able to do outside in Florida. Storm events, like Hurricane Ian, obviously cause major disruptions. But even an off-shore breeze can prevent a job on the water from being done. That was the next hurdle when it came to deploying FGCU’s newest artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Here in Florida, coral reefs are crucial to a healthy marine ecosystem and just as important for local scientists studying water quality. 

A unique classroom is literally growing beneath the waves off the coast of Florida. In the Gulf of Mexico, seven and a half miles due west of Bonita Beach and 30 feet below the surface grows Kimberly's Reef, an artificial reef complex created by The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University. WGCU is producing a documentary about the reef and the planned scientific research around it. In the meantime, WGCU’s Pam James will keep folks informed of progress on the reef and the documentary...

Contract divers drop several large culverts about 8 miles off Bonita Beach to build a reef that will help FGCU study water quality.

Contract divers drop several large culverts about 8 miles off Bonita Beach to build a reef that will help FGCU study water quality.

Florida Gulf Coast University began installing the base of its new artificial reef, named Kimberly’s Reef, in the Gulf of Mexico. Groups of concrete culverts will create an 11-acre underwater laboratory for scientific experimentation and research.