Artificial Reefs: Shipwrecks become homes for fish!

In the Florida Keys, several ships have been sunk intentionally as artificial reefs to provide habitat for fish and entertainment for scuba divers. Jonathan visits three wrecks of different ages to see how these wrecks turn into reefs and what it means to the local marine life.
**********************************************************************
If you like Jonathan Bird's Blue World, don't forget to subscribe!
You can buy some Blue World T-shirts & Swag!
www.blueworldtv.com/shop
You can join us on Facebook!
/ blueworldtv
Twitter
/ blueworld_tv
Instagram
@blueworldtv
Web:
www.blueworldTV.com
**********************************************************************
In shallow tropical oceans, coral reefs provide habitat and protection for thousands of species of marine animals, especially fish.
In places where the sea floor is too sandy to give coral a place to grab on and grow, there is very little fish life because there is no protection from predators.
For years, fishermen have known however that a shipwreck out in the middle of a flat featureless sea floor becomes a magnet for marine life. Not only is it a place for fish to hide from predators, but it’s also a place where coral can take hold and grow. For this reason, shipwrecks are often called artificial reefs.
Most shipwrecks are the result of accidents or warfare. They have become popular not just with fish, but with divers who want to see the fish or explore the wrecks. Sometimes these shipwrecks are not in the most convenient place for divers however, far from shore, sometimes in deep water.
So why not intentionally sink a ship in a convenient spot? That’s exactly what people are doing all around the world--sinking old ships as a way to create an artificial reef in a particular spot, sometimes to help out the fishermen, sometimes to give divers a place to go, and sometimes to help out the local marine life. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but sinking a big piece of junk on the bottom of the ocean can be a huge help to local marine life!
In 2009, a 522 foot long decommissioned missile-tracking warship called the Vandenberg, was sunk off Key West.
We head over to Southpoint Divers in Key West where we load the boat and join a regularly scheduled dive to the Vandenberg. Since this wreck is the second largest artificial reef in the world, it’s pretty popular with divers who come from all over the world to see it.
The next day, we head north up the keys to Key Largo. Key Largo has some world-famous wrecks. We stop in at Horizon Divers, Key Largo wreck diving experts. Tim and I load our gear onto the boat. Soon we’re on our way, navigating through the canals to the open ocean on a beautiful Keys day.
We arrive at the wreck of the Speigel Grove. A slightly older wreck, the Speigel Grove was sunk in 2002. As the crew ties the boat up to one of the mooring lines, I’m getting suited up for my dive.
So this is the wreck of the Speigel Grove. It’s 11 years old-a little bit older than the Vandenberg. Let’s go see what it looks like.
Some sections of the wreck are so overgrown with sponges and coral that they are completely unidentifiable. And while I definitely know I’m diving a shipwreck, it’s undeniable that nature is taking this man-made object back.
There is also no denying that exploring a shipwreck is fun. Since the Speigel Grove was prepared in advance for divers like the Vandenberg, it is safe for exploration.
This if course makes me wonder…what would an even older wreck look like? Our captain drives us a few miles to another, even older wreck, the Duane.
120 feet beneath this boat is the wreck of the Duane, which is 25 years old! I’m really curious to see what a 25 year old shipwreck looks like.
Leaving the bridge, I investigate yet another staircase, still recognizable as such, but so overgrown with sponges and coral that it now looks more like an abstract sculpture.
Everywhere I look, the wreck has grown thick colonies of cup corals.
And under every overhang, a school of fish, hiding from predators. The fish don’t know this was once a warship. For them, it’s just a great place to live, like any other reef. It seems that 25 years old is a good vintage for an artificial reef.
All too soon the dive must come to an end and I head back towards the mooring line to the boat. My adventures on shipwrecks have been illuminating. What I have learned is that the Vandenberg has a bright future as an artificial reef as the years go by. I’ll be checking in now and then to see how she does as she progresses from a ship to a mature artificial reef!

[@Misssarah3939]

This is awesome! I've always thought that shipwrecks were detrimental to the sea, the same way a piece of waste laying there would be to the environnement. Thank you for showing me how they can actually help the ocean. :)

[@DingDangg]

They also take out all of the hazardous stuff like oil, fuel

[@ronnienagy1901]

This is really cool. The fish and other creatures are enjoying their new home. 🐠❤

[@snowpeasify]

seeing her sink is so cool it's good to know that they still serve a purpose after being decommissioned

[@SkyScourgeGod]

Sinking ships to become artificial reefs is without a doubt one of the best ways to give a spent resource back to mother nature. They promote a healthy environment for ocean life to thrive in and grow. Give it a couple hundred years and these ships will collapse on themselves and disintegrate, effectively enriching the earth with material that we (humanity) had taken from it. Its so awesome that governments across the world are realizing this and doing it more often. :)

[@xxgalarza75]

qwertylee queen

[@artursaleksis511]

skyscougegod that's a lot. I couldn't understand it though

[@octopathtimetraveler5881]

qwertylee dontcha mean porpoise?? I’m obviously kidding.

[@downlink5877]

It's also nice to see if you're a seafarer. The proper place for an old vessel is the bottom of the sea, not a scrapyard.

[@Blazing19721]

I believe that ship wrecks are the best part of diving. Thank you Jonathan I'm learning so much from your films.

[@prabhunet]

This means we could utilise thousands of cars that we scrap every year for the benefit of Marine life.

[@stephanieh.777]

It would likely be cost prohibitive to prepare them for sinking; fluids, electricals, etc. would need to be stripped.

[@paulstanding7267]

Cars would not make good reefs as the steel is to thin would rust away and then disintegrate all life would just disappear as nothing left for marine life to hold on to.

[@dh1762]

Stephanie Huesler has to bring a little longer hi i

[@dh1762]

Stephanie Huesler has to bring a little longer than

[@lahavmorris9919]

It looks like you saw grand tour

[@proximo1033]

Just brilliant how these artificial reefs are serving to the marine ecosystem, as they provide perfect habitat for hole spectrum of marine wildlife, just love to learn as much as I can about them.

[@Blazing19721]

I watched this video several times and every time I love it. I love diving on ship wrecks.

[@BlueWorldTV]

New video on the Kittiwake coming out next month!

[@ayhobbyist]

watching the episodes over and over again. every time is like the first time. same delight and appreciation to the great team who made this channel. for them i say THANK YOU.

[@nilvoidzero000]

Fishes be like “what are stairs?”

[@sebastianoks7427]

i always thought that ship wrecks were a bad thing moslty. didnt think it would support life in that way. The more you know i guess. Good job blue world team!

[@TommieTyler]

Jonathan this was simply awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this and other wonderful adventures with us.

[@creatureconnor]

Wow, that was truly beautiful! I love these videos! You have no idea how much you mean to me! Every episode is just more inspiration! I'm so glad I discovered your Channel! I hope I can be just like you one day!

[@mehmylandmehmyland8831]

Ship wrecks that are turning into coral reefs I can’t imagine how much life it holds!

[@bobsemple5848]

After all the episodes i watch here thank you for welcoming onto your world!

[@stephanieh.777]

Thank you for exploring and showing what's being done to help marine life!

[@isabellafelipedeoliveiraca6698]

Sometimes I love this planet so much.

[@albertzhang359]

Great job! I love this episode! It’s amazing how the sinking of a ship could produce so much marine life to gather! Cool vid Jonathan! I appreciate everything that you do for the blue world.

[@BlueWorldTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rubydragon1388]

Probably one of my favorite episodes. :D

[@WonderingTree]

In the future i will definitely go for a dive and explore artificial habitats. What an amazing job you have exploring the depths 👍👍

[@americanallthewayredneck3917]

The duanes bridge is spectacular under artificial light luminating all of the sponges and life clinging to her aging hull..Another moment..Thanks for this sir...

[@kaleoy7584]

I love when you visit reef communities.

[@malikneron2341]

wait for it ''a bathroom'' -_- -_- -_-

[@jaropeanutbutter9949]

Malik Neron omg it's a bathroom!! XD

[@ZFect1989]

Awesome channel. Glad I stumbled upon it!

[@maggieli381]

I love your videos, they are so cool!

[@paulopereira8987]

BlueWorldTV Hi Sir Jonathan, you need to dive on Laje de Santos here in Santos City - Brazil. Thats a lot of marine life and would be great to see you right here. This location its also a marine reserve very well preserved by laws and the government.

[@JonMacSAS]

The intro music is so light-hearted & uplifting haha

[@STMguitarguy96]

I've had the pleasure to dive the Spiegel Grove a few times, beutiful wreck!!!

[@Luka-gz6ep]

jonathan GREAT!!!

[@1minigrem]

So good to get a new vid upload, I have been watching old Favorites to feed my habit! I would love it this show made it to a UK freebies channel, it would be really popular over here.

[@PortCarsScene]

Awesome video man! You never fail to impress when you release new episodes!! If your running low on ideas of stuff to document try and see about these subjects: 1. The Titanic 2. Leatherback turtles 3. Tarpon 4. Mola Mola 5. Diving at Night 7. Squids 8. Orca Whales 9.Lions mane Jellyfish 10. Pollution :)

[@BlueWorldTV]

Owen McFlowen Hey Owen, those are some great ideas. We have actually been working on Mola mola, Leatherbacks, Squids and Tarpon for a few years, but have not gathered enough footage yet. As for the Titanic....we're going to need a bigger budget! LOL!! We are definitely trying to find a place where we can do a decent Orca segment. They are complicated to film. Diving at Night is such a great idea. It never occurred to me to do a segment about that. Thanks for the idea. You get all the credit.

[@PortCarsScene]

Your welcome about the night diving segment idea, there is a lot of interesting stuff that goes on at night, especially when I was in Croatia snorkelling at 9 o'clock and a reef shark came swimming by! 👌

[@kaitlinjenks5626]

+BlueWorldTV what was is it like when you first saw a shark?

[@scpfoundation9361]

NI Car Videography 2 brittanic 3 lusitania

[@scpfoundation9361]

BlueWorldTV plus u need a submarine the wreck is about 12 k feet deep

[@28Jcarlo]

Great work!

[@peterjohnson8935]

I found this episode to be very interesting. Thanks!

[@TODFXMEN2000]

Your videos are awsome blueworldtv

[@singyuenlau423]

Thanks for sharing your work with us! If there is one special dive I'd love to see you cover in your shows, it'll be the annual sardine run off South Africa! Cheers!

[@L_Zephy]

I just LOVE this content! :) It's very amazing!!! Keep it up, Jonathan and Blue World Team!

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thank you! Will do!

[@L_Zephy]

@@BlueWorldTV Welcome! :)

[@yunkaili589]

Love your shows! Especially the shark films.

[@rhombifer566]

Love all your videos 👍🏻👍🏻

[@lucagaming6530]

Thank you

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

I always just thought shipwrecks looked gross. But this made me realize how important and even kinda pretty they are.

[@ninjapotato_9235]

Love the sea i want to get into diving again thanks to u great videos 👍

[@joaboy1352]

Nice jhon

[@kingagony3852]

Great video love it

[@thewanderer6174]

I love this channel!

[@supy0457]

Nice video!

[@Xtinah3]

I love this show it is like I'm at Mexico again snorkeling.

[@talkaboutwacky]

1:45 This fishes permanent scowl made me laugh so hard!

[@mirhasanoddname]

I'm glad we're helping create more reefs♡ Especially since we're responsible for the bleaching of them in the first place

[@evanjungclaus7975]

That's really cool dude😎👍

[@talkaboutwacky]

I love how the ocean claims everything that goes into it, nothing goes to waste.

[@VeryHandsomeAndTall]

this is so relaxing

[@americanallthewayredneck3917]

That double hose reg works great for photography..And it looks really cool too..

[@dragon_slayer7919]

" wait for it " ( I gave it a drum roll 😂) " a bathroom " that cracked me up

[@BlueWorldTV]

Dragon_Slayer Technically a bathroom on a ship is called a "head" but the joke just isn't as funny if people don't get it. LOL

[@dragon_slayer7919]

Hahaha I get it 😂😂😂😂😂🐙🐋🐟🐳🐠🐢

[@snowy7177]

+BlueWorldTV the majestic bathroom ITS TINY AND ITS FOR SALE! 50 PERCENT OFF! BUY ONE FREE ONE

[@justincaruana9453]

Big fan !! :)

[@lonnie571]

you are a very talented diver

[@MaddenNationNews]

YEA!!! NEW EPISODE!!!

[@MaddenNationNews]

Oh and have you thought of trying to have your show on History channel?

[@BlueWorldTV]

MaddenNation We are on PBS

[@MaddenNationNews]

Ohh

[@darrellcoon3738]

BlueWorldTV my son seth loves when you dive He wants to be just like you

[@WOODY11780]

I was stationed on the Grove's Sister ship USS Hermitage LSD-34 1973 - 1974 on a Med Cruise

[@kathanbarot4795]

cool wreak!!!

[@donnarichardson537]

I love your vids

[@uncatila]

Two hose regs are the coolest thing in diving. Long live sea hunt. Too bad Phil at VDH just passed away. God rest his soul.

[@BlueWorldTV]

I agree, doublehose regs are awesome and cool. Really sad about Bryan.

[@marstheknife7396]

11:52 And here you have, where fish use the restroom!

[@Stickyybenzz]

Wait I thought it's a sink

[@sessue1]

I love this

[@immygreen6151]

It's beautiful

[@KemilyCrafter69]

Scuba Diving Is so cool! But I never have understood why Scuba Divers Scuba Dive at night time. Isnt it creepy and too dark too see? Even with a flashlight isnt your vision limited to what the rays of the flashlight touch, Or does the moon shine in through the water? Nice Videos Jonathan!

[@BlueWorldTV]

Insany 14 A bight moon in clear water yields a surprising amount of light, but most of the time you are limited to your flashlight beam. It actually sounds a lot spookier than it is. Diving at night allows you to see animals that are only out at night.

[@KemilyCrafter69]

BlueWorldTV Oh, Okay thanks. My Dad loves night diving. You should Scuba Dive in Thailand. I heard that the water there is Beautiful.

[@americanallthewayredneck3917]

All the critters come out at night.Corals extend there feeders and the ocean floor is alive ..My best every night dive was off kona with manta rays...

[@khb336]

Nice...stay awesome

[@BlueWorldTV]

Illuminati_confirmed? Thanks bro! :-)

[@thepassanajournals8964]

I love reefs!! (Even though I haven’t been to one)

[@kevinsteven9044]

It's so important that humans start caring equally about the oceans as we do the land. Our lives depend on it. Watching these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat is so amazing.

[@BlueWorldTV]

I agree!

[@jurassiccollecter5657]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN

[@jondionisio6119]

I love your channel next try to find a dwarf lantern shark

[@ufloww]

amazing

[@TODFXMEN2000]

You are awsome

[@gissellgarcia5664]

Your awesome

[@bretthardingtelford8043]

Superb

[@TODFXMEN2000]

Awesome

[@kcfcousins5540]

It's me Francess again Jonathan Bird ,I like this episode a lot it makes me think of pirates when there ship sank but I already know that these ships don't belong to pirates at all.They are boats that people sank.Oh and I was wondering if you could make a episode about a fish called an oarfish. Your Friend,Francess 😃

[@BlueWorldTV]

KCF cousins Hey Francess, thanks for the comment! We haven't got an episode about the Oarfish, but I had an encounter with one before and got a picture. You can read the story here: www.blueworldtv.com/behind-the-scenes/sea-stories/encounter-with-an-oarfish

[@mattshark100]

awesome

[@Volkswagen-Enthusiast]

Finaly new video :3

[@robertchambers5756]

Have you ever dove the mighty O? It is one of my bucket list dives!! Be a good video also.

[@_marina_vladimirovna]

I love it

[@taniekaramirez9859]

that's awesome

[@stanfisher5938]

He deserves a million of sub.😍💖

[@BlueWorldTV]

I agree!!

[@ardalangolkari1781]

Jonathan you definitely should visit Vancouver Aquarium and dive in our tanks because we have some mammals that are not the most common in Aquariums like pacific white sided dolphin and false killer whale also blugas as well

[@vanh9226]

awww the fish is cute

[@oscarbrown4674]

Nice vid

[@artursaleksis511]

Its cool. Who's watching this in 2017

[@999swaggy5]

Cool

[@JohnPrice-jq5yt]

The silver fox looked young at least he got you back to the dock 🎉

[@lucagaming6530]

Have you been scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef it's very beautiful and relaxing

[@BlueWorldTV]

AdminGamer 123 kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6a4qYSnqNinjac

[@vanh9226]

lol the bathroom 😂😅😄

[@michelbilly6942]

splendides images

[@cashoutgod4980]

I'm doing this for a homework assignment for science class

[@BlueWorldTV]

Seems like a pretty sweet homework assignment if you get to watch Blue World!

[@BrianLichtenthal]

BlueWorldTV is cool

[@vyu9451]

Bl

[@idontlikeyoutube6568]

Sometimes it looks like you are flying 🧡

[@thememechannel5744]

blueworld tv for life.

[@michaelaaron4212]

Can you go see the titanic soon I heard that it’s been under so long it is starting to fall a part

[@zeekmpf05]

No one can scuba dive to the Titanic. The water pressure there would kill them.

[@JackRabbitSlim]

The titanic is far too deep, in extremely cold water, and there isn't that much to see of it any more, it's disintegrating fast.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

JackRabbitSlim There actually still is a lot left to Titanic, especially the bow

[@batterykinzie3529]

Mr. Bird, I love your videos. I think you deserve to be on a network. Animal Planet perhaps. I hope you continue making education fun for years to come

[@dragon_slayer7919]

He does have one!! Check on his website :)

[@batterykinzie3529]

Thanks, will do =)

[@zuluowo6267]

It's about time you make a new video 😸

[@taniekaramirez9859]

OMG you should do one of real treasure bars and stuff in it

[@juantorres9636]

Awesome video +1+1+1. I wonder how wrecks do overtime in coder waters like California or other parts of the world compared to the warmer waters of Florida.

[@rhombifer566]

cool

[@Agora2021]

Does the extensive coverage of marine life like corals extend the lifespan of the ship itself? I imagine the creatures living on the hull would help prevent corrosion and keep the structure strong and sturdy. Would the corals, over time, end up creating something like a brand new reef extending outwards from the ship as they grew and compounded upon each other?

[@BlueWorldTV]

The metal rusts, but the coral keeps building. Eventually though the metal will collapse under the weight. But it takes well over 50 years for that process to start.

[@Agora2021]

Neat, thanks for the quick reply. Well over 50 years is a hell of a long time.

[@ProfessorClopOfficial]

Hey Johnathan have you ever seen or swam with the Mako Sharks i gotta say Those are the best sharks!