Description
The Surf Reef - what is it?
Boscombe’s artificial surf reef will be a first for
Europe, and one of only five in the world, designed
to create bigger waves - and better surfing.
How does it work?
The reef does not create waves like a swimming pool wave
machine. Instead, large sand bags are laid on the sea bed and act
like a giant ramp, pushing the natural waves upwards as they
crest over the reef, shaping them into good quality surfing waves.
It should greatly improve surfing conditions and the number of
quality surfing days at Boscombe, when swells are greater than
0.5 metres. In calm weather, the reef should create a lagoon
along the shoreline for safe swimming.
What about the environment?
The reef is designed for surfing, using only the sustainable power
of nature to make it work. Research suggests the reef will also
protect the coast from erosion and form a habitat for marine
wildlife. The impact of the reef will be closely monitored by
Bournemouth University and Channel Coastal Observatory.
What is it made of?
55 giant geo-textile bags, filled
with specially procured beach
sand, carefully placed on the
seabed. The reef covers an area of
a football pitch, some of the bags
are up to 70 metres long and
weigh 2,500 tonnes when full.
How will it be built?
Sand for the reef has been placed on the beach between groynes
23 to 26, opposite the Honeycombe Beach development east of
Boscombe pier.
Over the summer, the empty sand bags will be lowered onto the
seabed by divers from a barge boat.
A small section of beach in front of Honeycombe Beach
development will be fenced off, from which sand will be pumped
down a flexible pipeline leading out to sea, filling each of the
sand bags in turn.
When will it be finished?
Construction of the reef will finish at the end of October 2008,
subject to calm weather conditions
How will the reef be managed?
The Council will regularly inspect
and maintain the reef and
provide year round life-guard
cover in partnership with the
RNLI. The reef area will be
marked out by buoys to help
control motorised watercraft.
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