Projects

We have deployed more than 300 habitat reef modules and artistic structures.

Since the start of our 1000 Mermaids Project, we now have over 300 modules deployed in South Florida with creation of our newest 1000 Mermaids site deployed off of Hollywood Beach, Florida in the November 2022. The Project is a monumental public Eco-Art project in the form of an artificial reef installation that also serves as an underwater eco-friendly destination for tourism, research, and coral restoration.
Powered by the Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI), the mission of this project is to enhance marine habitats and expand fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors alike. Mermaids have long been a symbol of humans’ connection to the ocean, and this artificial reef is being created by body casting real people in the form of mermaids on ocean-friendly artistically crafted reef modules that will allow their likeness & legacy to live forever on the seafloor.
For more information, go to https://1000mermaids.com.
The 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project initially deployed our first sites in Palm Beach County in August 2019 and November 2020.
2019 1000 Mermaids Reef Coordinates
(N 26°45.260 W80°01.628) 40ft depth.
2020 1000 Mermaids Reef Coordinates
(N 26°45.320 W80°01.547) 43ft depth.

The Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI) in partnership with the City of Hollywood’s Community Redevelopment Agency, 2022 deployment of the first 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project site and the 2025 deployment of Guardians of the Reef in Broward County.
Both reef projects consist of complex habitat reef modules and interactive, custom artistic sculptures. The artificial reef sculptures, weighing between 3,500-5500 lbs each, come outfitted with the patented Coral Lok™ system allowing coral to be out-planted directly to the artificial reefs.
Off-Shore Hollywood Reef Site Coordinates (Deployed 2022):
(N 25°59.2913 W 80°05.6623)
56ft depth
Guardians of the Reef Near-Shore Snorkel Sites (Deployed 2025):
Site 1: (N 26° 02.385 W 80° 06.70133)
North Beach Park - A1A at McClellan St.
Site 2: (N 26° 02.201 W 80° 06.75)
North Beach Park - A1A at Simms Street
Site 3: N 26° 00.24 W 80° 06.8358)
Harry Berry Park
Site 4: (N 25° 02.300 80° 06.70133)
Keating Park, Diplomat

In collaboration with the Coral Restoration Foundation, Reef Cells and Ocean Rescue Alliance International successfully out-planted Orbicella faveolata, mountainous star coral, in December 2020 in Key Largo, Florida.
The purpose of this restoration is to assess the effectiveness of out-planting artificial structures with the same genotype to obtain higher fusion rates. With hopes that the coral fragments will fuse more quickly to create a larger reproductive coral. This method also avoids impacting existing reef integrity with the easy attachment to existing reef structure with cement or epoxy. This pilot led way to a larger restoration project in conjunction with MyFWC to out-plant 6,000 coral fragments.
December 2020 in Key Largo, Florida

MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife and Florida Department of Environmental Protection is studying boulder corals and the effects of Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease on restored corals.
This research project is conducted by MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife and Florida Department of Environmental Protection in collaboration with FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Nova Southeastern University, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Biscayne National Park, Keys Marine Laboratory, Ocean Rescue Alliance International and Reef Cells.
Key West, FL

Connecting Mayan culture to coral ecology and restoration. This reef will bring to life Mayan culture specifically the Kukulkan serpent god. The Kukulkan was known as the creator deity which signifies strength and wisdom in Mayan history.
Telling stories of not only the creation of earth but failures that came before the modern world. This reef was deployed in the shape of a serpent involving multiple creative features of the Kukulkan.
Located in Tulum, Mexico - this land-based module highlights Mayan culture creating a display that supports art, education, and awareness.
Partnering with Corales Tulum local marine nonprofits - we plan to collectively create a coral nursery to out-plant corals on the reef structure, monitor the reef and engage tourist in education.

Sexual reproduction of coral is a new adaptive strategy to sexually reproduce coral aiding in out-planting more biodiverse coral genotypes.
Our goal is to identify the most beneficial substrate that increases coral recruitment. These findings will lead to which surface substrate will be most beneficial in aiding increased natural coral recruitment to our artificial reefs. Here we are looking at pigmentation and surface rugosity as factors to increase coral settlement.
Secore International is assessing coral recruitment success to several different substrate mixes.