Transforming Miami Beach with an Artistic Underwater Reef

A unique initiative off Miami Beach aims to blend art, ecological restoration, and tourism with the creation of an artificial reef.

The Vision: Art Meets Marine Life

The inaugural stage of the Reefline project features 'Concrete Coral' by Leandro Ehrlich, showcasing 22 auto sculptures destined to be enveloped in coral life.

Inside a Miami warehouse, marine enthusiast Colin Foord nurtures delicate coral species. His focus is on gorgonians, crucial to Caribbean and Floridian reef ecosystems.

Cultivating a New Underwater World

Over 2,000 coral specimens are diligently attended to by Foord. Once ready, these will adorn submerged concrete figures. Supported by snails and crabs, which clean algae, species like sea fans and whips will grow, some reaching impressive heights.

The project's vision encompasses a sprawling seven-mile reef close to the beach, featuring intriguing art pieces made from marine-resistant materials.

An Ecosystem Reimagined

Foord's dedication blends science with aesthetic appeal, spearheading a team that studies and documents reef habitats. His laboratory births the very coral that will thrive on this creative seafloor expansion.

This oceanic gallery will soon pulse with life, situated just 700 feet from the shore, at depths manageable with basic snorkeling gear, offering an accessible glimpse into this vibrant ecosystem.

Inception Through Collaboration

The idea of Reefline sprouted from conversations between Foord and art curator Ximena Caminos. Passionate about cultural projects, Caminos sees this marine transformation as upscale housing for marine life, offering well-designed habitats much like urban apartments.

Caminos' ambition is supported by a $5 million fund by the city, with a plan to raise an additional $6 million to bring the project to fruition.

Art Transformed by Nature

Teams are breaking ground on Ehrlich's vision of submerged cars serving as substrates for coral. Their shapes perfectly suit coral growth, likened to planters.

Ehrlich anticipates that over time, the sculptures will morph into natural artworks, as coral slowly cloaks them.

Restoring Lost Reefs

Historically, Miami Beach was graced with its own coral reef, lost to sand during beach replenishments. The Reefline project aims to recreate an ecological haven using hardy, local corals resilient to environmental stressors.

A Symbolic Undertaking

Caminos envisions the project evolving over a decade. A proposed land-based marine education center will further explain coral reef importance, while the underwater marvels might become aerial spectacles as flights enter Miami, with a potential icon being a cluster of towering starfish formations.