Artificial reefs Nilwella
Photos: OceanEye
Ever dived on a bus stop? Well, now you can!
Nilwella artificial reefs is a cool little spot in shallow waters (3,5–8 meters), good for both snorkelers and divers. About two years ago we started a process of protecting this coastal part of Sri Lanka. Our final goal is to establish a marine park, but in the meantime we got a promise of getting some statues to sink in order to make an underwater gallery. Yes, we have pushed paper and nagged at officials and finally the area got a small cluster of artificial reefs. We are incredibly happy!
In collaboration with the Sri Lankan Navy and Ruhunu Diving Center we planned for and sunk a couple of cars, a bus, some statues and an airplane. The idea is that these statues and vehicles will become anchors on the otherwise sandy ocean floor, in favour of marine plants and animals, such as seaweed and corals, and attract more marine life to the area.
Nilwella (which means Blue beach in Sinhala) was once rich in marine life with small coral reef systems, fish, turtles, eels and rays. However, a lot has been destroyed by fishing and pollution. With this project, our hope is to bring awareness to the issue and to inspire people to protect the environment so that marine creatures can inhabit this area once again in peace.