New Easter Island Themed Reef Making Waves In Deerfield Beach
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DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) -- A new and unique South Florida dive site will become a reality this weekend off Deerfield Beach.
It's the official sinking of the Rapa Nui Reef on Sunday June 7th.
The Rapa Nui Reef will be a combination of man-made reef and public art project.
Rapa Nui are the native Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island. The Rapa Nui Reef serves as a tribute to the iconic stone figures found on the island. There are 15 "Moai" figures ranging from 6 to 22 feet tall. They'll be placed on concrete structures designed to facilitate the growth of marine life.
The stone structures are being sunk into 70 feet of water between the second and third reef directly off of the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier.
The new reef will be an underwater sculptural environment for divers to explore and marine life to inhabit.
The entire sculpture will be affixed to a 150' by 45' by 9' steel barge to allow for stability, transportation and sinking. Public viewing of the Mighty Rapa Nui and festivities will be held at 2 Georges at the Cove Restaurant, 1754 SE 3 Ct, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 on Friday, June 5th and Saturday June 6th.
The sinking is scheduled for Sunday, June 7th around 10:00 a.m. (weather permitting).
Over the past 20 years, Broward County's artificial reef programs have placed more than 75 artificial reefs on the ocean floor, where they act as magnets for fish and sea life.