RECREATIONAL DIVING OASIS WITH ARTIFICIAL REEFS

The project includes the installation of a demonstrational innovative” Recreational Diving Oasis” with the deployment 40 artificial reef units in the Underwater Biotechnological Park of Crete, a 25 hectare seabed area at a depth of 20 metres. This area has been granted by the Greek State to HCMR exclusively for the development of scientific and technological marine research activities.  

The innovative artificial reefs developed by ELKETHE are constructed from environmentally friendly concrete of special composition and simulate the natural underwater rock, providing numerous habitats for the establishment of marine organisms. 

The natural colonisation process starts immediately upon installation of the reefs on the seabed. Over a period of 1-2 months the reefs offer refugia to numerous fish species of high commercially value such as groupers, seabreems, porgies, etc. and attract large pelagics such amberjacks. In addition, they support a rich community of epibenthic organisms such as sponges, ascidians and sea anemones. 

In the framework of the programme, parallel cooperation meetings are being held with tourism operators, local authorities, chambers of commerce, diving centres and other interested parties, with the aim of establishing a network of diving parks in Crete and other coastal areas of Greece and many other Mediterranean countries.  

A first result from these contacts is the final approval by the State of the location of the first Diving Park in our country, in Apokoronas Municipality, Chania, where the application of the innovative technology of ELKEΘE is exclusively foreseen. This is expected to be followed by the approval of similar studies for 4 other projects in Crete (Stalis, Mononaftis, Ierapetra, Agios Nikolaos) which are currently at an advanced stage of maturity. The innovative technology of ELKEΘE is protected by 8 patents in Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Turkey and Croatia.

The programme includes the procurement of a 7.5 m long diving vessel with the capacity to transport 8 visiting divers to the Park and a self-propelled unmanned underwater vehicle (ROV). This vehicle, equipped with high-definition underwater cameras, is intended to support the research work of the vessel and the direct demonstration of the innovative technology of ELKEΘE in the field.

With a view to the commercial exploitation of the research results, in March 2021, ELKETHE established a Knowledge-Intensive Business company(spin-off) with the distinctive title: “INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS” ‘A.R.I.A.