Surf Reef

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. 

Sorted Surf Shop