Projects
ORAI has deployed more than 180 structures for numerous projects with many more currently planned.
Stay tuned for new site announcements and project expansions!
1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project
The 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project initially deployed our first sites in Palm Beach County in August 2019 and November 2020 in partnership with our reef building partner Reef Cells & PBC DERM.
Coordinates 2020 Reef (N 26°45.320 W80°01.547) 43ft depth.
Coordinates 2019 Reef (N 26°45.260 W80°01.628) 40ft depth.
We have since grown our total to 100 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.
ORAI City of Hollywood 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef
Coordinates (N 25°59.2913 W80°05.6623) 56ft depth.
Recently deployed November 1st 2022
The Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI) in partnership with the City of Hollywood’s Community Redevelopment Agency, deployed its first 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project site in Broward county! Off the coast of Hollywood Beach with 20 ocean-friendly artificial reef modules. This reef consists of 15 complex habitat reef modules and 5 artistic sculptures. Come immerse yourself amongst 3 mermaids, an ORAI industrial diver and become a mermaid yourself at the Hollywood Mermaid Selfie Tail!
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. Thanks to ORA's contributions to initiatives accelerating coral restoration efforts in Southeast Florida, this site is designed to become a recipient site for transplanted corals providing a variety of community-based, citizen science and educational opportunities. Visit 1000 Mermaids to find out more about our ecoart initiative https://1000mermaids.com.
Other Past, Current, and Upcoming Projects
The Serpent, Mayan Artificial Reef, Tulum Mexico
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. The land-based module highlighted Mayan culture creating a display that supports art, education, and awareness. Partnering with Beyond Coral Foundation and 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.
Boulder Coral Restoration Key Largo, FL
In collaboration with the Coral Restoration Foundation, Reef Cells and Ocean Rescue Alliance 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.
FWC Boulder Coral Restoration Key West, FL
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 and Reef Cells.
Coral Settlement Studies, Secore International
Sexual reproduction of coral is a new adaptive strategy to sexually reproduce coral aiding in out-planting more biodiverse coral genotypes. In this study Secore International is assessing coral recruitment success to several different substrate mixes. 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.
Andrew “Red” Harris Reef
Firehock Memorial Reef
Other ideas to meet your needs
Our projects can attract and restore critical marine life, attenuate waves and retain beach sand, protect coastlines, add artistic flair, advertise your brand from above, create a huge tourism draw, and promote ecotourism opportunities with our Coral Loks.