This past July, only 9 months ago, 700 tons of surplus concrete material was placed offshore North East Florida to create the latest Jacksonville Reef. Today the TISIRI team visited the site to check in on the evolution of the reef. Even though the reef material was placed on the sea floor only months ago, TISIRI divers still encountered a wide diversity and quantity of marine life. See the pictures and video below that include encounters with grouper, flounder, and even a sea turtle. This post continues below the video.

As the pictures and video of this new artificial reef confirm, the concrete structures are already encrusted with a variety of invertebrate life including barnacles, tunicates, and algae. This life, in turn, is feeding grazers such as sea urchins and several fish species. Of course these animals are food for even larger creatures and thus the new reef seems to support multiple levels of the marine food chain already.

This recent reef deployment is already serving as an offshore destination for Jacksonville and St. Augustine fishermen, scuba divers, tourist, and offshore enthusiast. We at TISIRI encourage users to visit and utilize the reef but to make sure to do it in a sustainable. If fishing or spear fishing stay within your regulation limits and be mindful of debri on your vessel that it does not go overboard and litter the reef site.

Marine life observed:
Tomtates
Flounder
Seabass
Sea Urchin
Grouper
Sea Bass
Sea Turtle
Lionfish

Click here for coordinates and more information about this Jacksonville Reef location.

New Jacksonville Reef Marine Habitat Evolution is a post from: TISIRI

TISIRI and Divetalking.com spent the last two weeks with the young gentlemen of Safe Harbor Maritime Academy helping prepare them for open water scuba certification. This past weekend the students executed their open water diving requirements and became certified scuba divers. See pictures and a brief video of the Safe Harbor gentlemen preforming their skills underwater at Ginnie Springs. (this post continues below the video)

All the boys preformed remarkably and it was great to see their reactions to their first real world scuba diving experience. These guys are hooked now! Congratulations.

Larry Davis of Divetalking.com served as dive instructor, Joe Kistel of TISIRI was the project coordinator and photographer, and Ed Kalakauskis assisted in dive instruction and program logistics.

TISIRI would like to thank project sponsors including Diver Supply Jacksonville, PADI, Scuba Extreme, and Ginnie Springs Outdoors.

Safe Harbor Maritime Academy Scuba Certification is a post from: TISIRI

Below are offshore fishing equipment supplies TISIRI is auctioning off to benefit TISIRI’s efforts. Please take a look at the items in the pictures and make your bid in the comments section below. You do not need to provide your actual name if you would like to remain anonymous but you must provide an accurate email address so we can contact you if you are a winner, Your email will not be published and only used to notify you if you have won the auction. Note there is more equipment included in this package that is not shown in the photographs. These additional items are primarily fishing lures and rigging items. Happy bidding.

Auction package includes

2 Motorized Penn rod and reel combos
3 Penn rod and spinning reel combos
1 Penn rod and spinning reel combo
A great quantity of fishing lures, rigging, fishing line, and more.

Bids will be accepted via the comments section below, email Info@TISIRI.org, or by calling us @ TISIRI HQ’s (904-394-2938). Bids will be accepted through Friday the 27th @ 5pm.

Winning bidder can pick up the package from TISIRI HQ or the items can be shipped at the winning bidder’s expense.

Fishing gear supply auction (rods, reels, lures) is a post from: TISIRI

Today TISIRI added five additional North East Florida offshore destinations to our Reefs Revealed map. See our map on the TISIRI Homepage and tell us below which five sites are the newest additions to the map. There are eighteen total anchors on the map click on the anchors to see the name of each reef site. Of the eighteen, five were recently added today. Take a guess at which five reef sites were just added and the 1st one to guess all five correctly will win a TISIRI original photo print and a gift certificate good for two boardings, two food items, and two free plays aboard the Jacks or Better Casino (valued @ $72). If nobody is able to guess all five correctly by early next week the contestant with the most amount of correct answers will win.

The winner will be revealed next week. We look forward to your responses below and good luck. Thanks

5 Reefs Added to Reefs Revealed Map is a post from: TISIRI

Broadcast networks WTEV and WJXT report the current condition of the S.S. Gulf America Wreck with TISIRI’s Joe Kistel. The news stations reference video and pictures of the wreckage captured by Kistel only two weeks ago. TISIRI and the JRRT investigated the Gulf America Reef to observe its current condition and collect visual media of the site. See the two news stories below.

WTEV Action News Segment:

WJXT News 4 Jax Report:

Pictures and video captured by Kistel of this wreck site can be located by clicking here.

News Stations Report the Gulf America Wreck is a post from: TISIRI