Why ships, tanks and subway cars are sent to the bottom of the ocean (28 photos)

When you see this photo collection, you may have exactly a question. Why deliberately litter with giant iron machines and boats in the ocean? But what about marine life? The answer is extremely elegant and simple.





The number of coral reefs in the world is declining and this is a serious problem. The so-called artificial reefs are designed to solve it. They are provide an extra hard surface on which to attach algae and various invertebrates. And this is the place habitat, and a source of food for marine life, in general - life. BUT also an opportunity to support dying coral reefs and help them recover.

It turns out that everything is used to create these artificial reefs. old, unnecessary, scrapped ships, boats, train cars, even heavy military equipment. Instead of selling them for scrap, they used to help the environment and stimulate underwater vegetation and the prosperity of marine life. Here are a few interesting photographs of objects that were used for this purpose.

This wreck is home to over 113 different fish species.



It was sunk in 2006 off the coast of Pensacola, Florida





Another image of the moment he goes underwater



The same ship after being in the water for over a year



This is Silent Evolution, an underwater sculpture by Jason DeCaires Taylor



Taylor used coral growth material

This ship is being towed off the coast of Key West. It should become an artificial reef Florida Keys



It's the same ship disappearing into the water



And further. After the explosion, the ship took 1 minute 54 seconds to sink.



Here are the bubbles on the surface after it sank



And in this picture - divers exploring the same vessel after a while



Explosions on the "Gran Roque"



25 decommissioned tanks are sent to the Gulf of Thailand



They are thrown into the water. They will also turn into artificial reefs



Old train car being steam cleaned before it becomes an artificial reef



New York subway cars set off on their last journey - to the Atlantic



Decommissioned patrol vessel blown up and sent to the bottom



The Texas Clipper is sinking



This one sank a little too early and had to be turned over and sunk again



This lion lives on the Neptune Memorial Reef. People can pay to have their remains here.



Armored personnel carriers are dismantled and sent to the bottom



Scuttled tank in the Red Sea



The former Royal Navy frigate has ended its service life.



And here are 40 subway cars going to the ocean to also contribute



One by one, the subway cars go into the water



They were dropped on Blackfish Bank Reef



Finally - another fragment of "Silent Evolution"