World's Largest 3-D Printed Reef Installed at Summer Island Maldives

THE world's largest 3-D printed reef was submerged on Saturday (11 August) at Summer Island #Maldives, in what is hoped could be a new technology-driven method to help coral reefs survive a warming climate.

The artificial reef, assembled with hundreds of ceramic and concrete modules, was submerged at Summer Island's 'Blue Lagoon' -- a sandy part of the lagoon, where the resort hopes to create a new coral reef ecosystem.

The project started in a lab in Melbourne, Australia, where industrial designer Alex Goad of Reef Design Lab used sophisticated computing modeling to design reef structures similar to the coral reefs found naturally in the Maldives.

A large 3-D printer whirred away for 24 hours to print moulds of the reef structures. These moulds were cast in ceramic -- an inert substance, similar to the calcium carbonate found in coral reefs. The ceramic moulds were shipped to the Maldives, and filled with concrete on the beach at Summer Island. 220 ceramic, concrete filled moulds were then slotted together, like a giant LEGO set, to create the new reef.

The new reef sits in seven metres of water, close to the resort's existing coral nursery. Fragments of coral from the nursery are being transplanted onto the 3-D reef, where they will grow and colonise the structure.

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On the water . . .

WITH coral reefs facing increasing challenges from global warming, overfishing and ocean acidification, eight countries formed the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in 1995. As conditions continue to decline, more than 60 countries as well as the United Nations have joined the initiative and named 2018 the Year of the Reef.

A recently released report on the chemicals in sunscreens and their impact on coral reefs worldwide, documenting damage, calling for further research and promoting a “precautionary approach” to dealing with the issue. Chemicals found in sunscreens, particularly oxybenzone and related compounds, have reached potentially lethal levels for the most vulnerable juvenile coral larva in the world’s most popular dive locations.

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Underwater in the Palm Beaches

BEST known for its 47 miles of pristine beaches, The Palm Beaches is also home to an abundance of marine life, which creates world-class #diving and #snorkeling experiences unique to #Florida. A collection of 39 cities and towns stretching from Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta, The Palm Beaches is the closest place in North America to the Gulf Stream current, an oceanic conveyor belt of warm, clear water that attracts sea turtles, tropical fish, sailfish, goliath grouper, dolphins and even gentle whale sharks.

The destination is also home to 151 artificial reefs, including 45 scuttled ships. One of the newest is the storied cargo ship Ana Cecilia, which was sunk off the Lake Worth Inlet in 2016. Snorkelers can also enjoy easy access to an Underwater Snorkel Trail, a free shore dive location teeming with reef dwellers and colorful tropical fish.

www.thepalmbeaches.com

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