See the Shipwreck photos click here!

June 6th, 2009

New Shipwreck - Miracle of Life

The idea of placing a shipwreck off of Deerfield Beach started nine years ago. As I see it, as a dive store owner, we can do a better job by creating more artificial reefs to benefit the environment and also our local economy. I tried the first time in conjunction with the Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the annual Beach Blowout, Jim Mathie, and assistance of Ray McAllister.

A couple of times we got very close to acquire a ship to make artificial reefs but we’ve had problems with the permits and coordinating the local government. This time, we have every thing in place. As you see in the picture below, we are off Deerfield Beach, [picture taken by local media newspaper, the Observer.

This time I tried a different approach by working with the city instead of directing towards the county itself. After getting all the support from the city, we started coordinating with Ken Banks, the Coordinator from Broward County Artificial Reefs, and Carmen of Palm Beach County. The most important approach was getting the City of Deerfield Beach behind and supporting our idea, this way is a quicker response to the needs of our government representation.

I, Pavan, believe the idea of this first shipwreck is just the start of a massive endeavor of achievements as persuasion to get more large ships to this area by increasing the number of artificial reefs off Deerfield. This attracts more divers and fisherman alike. This will help the local hotels, restaurants and small businesses in general by bringing more people to this area to enjoy the more attractions. As the city of Deerfield Beach did a study, where it shows it will stimulate the economy by increasing the figures of money spent in the Deerfield area with this study supporting us.

"I really believe, with support from the community, city volunteers and charitable donations we can turn some old, rusted ship bounded with the use of drug smugglers and bearing illegal drugs into a new habitat for marine life and help the local economy at the same time."