80-Foot Kraken on Old WWII Ship Becomes Artificial Reef in the British Virgin Islands – Business BVI

80-Foot Kraken on Old WWII Ship Becomes Artificial Reef in the British Virgin Islands

30/01/2020 by Neil（https://businessbvimagazine.com/author/neil/）

W

ith more and more natural reefs dying due to climate change, people are increasingly turning to artificial reefs to provide safe ecosystems for aquatic life. And while we’ve seen everything from subway cars to underwater sculptures used for this purpose, nothing is quite as evocative as the BVI Art Reef.

Structured to promote the growth of transplanted coral, the artificial reef is composed of a WWII fuel barge topped by an elaborate 80-foot mesh kraken. Named the Kodiak Queen, the BVI Art Reef is also open to divers, as well as marine scientists and local students from the British Virgin Islands. The ship, which is one of five that fought at Pearl Habor, was set to be scrapped before photographer Owen Buggy discovered its historical significance and brought this unique idea to Sir Richard Branson, who lives on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

After years of careful research and planning to transform the warship into a place that would attract divers and also cultivate a healthy ecosystem, the Kodiak Queen was sunk into the Caribbean Sea in April 2017.