South Walton Artificial Reefs at Grayton Beach State Park

Walton county owes Donna Amend (shown above) a HUGE thank you for putting this together. She's been the driving force behind making this happen.

What are the locations of the other artificial reefs and what are the deployment dates?

What are the locations of the other artificial reefs and what are the deployment dates?

For now the only Reef is at Grayton Beach State Park. They are still adding to it.

But, more reefs to be added to other beach sites such as Inlet beach, Topsail Park, Miramar Beach... Do not know timetable.

Photos at
http://sowal.com/photos/artificial-reef-deployment-at-grayton-beach-state-park

Wow so they placed them in the water a week or so ago. Too cool! How's the swim out to them? I got down here yesterday and would love to check this out. Anybody been out there yet?

Surf was up a bit today and am trying to imagine how far out I'd be swimming to reach this reef. I understand not much is probably happening yet creature wise, but am curious if taking some sort of raft / flotation device and anchoring might be advisable. Free divers usually utilize some sort of float / flag thing, but I've not really looked into it yet.

Headed to the jettyies at St. andrews in the next couple mornings but would love to check this if water was not as rough as today. Heard earlier in the week it was FLAT. Kinda surprised nobody has posted about this new reef?!?

Wake up! I'm gonna poke ya if you don't wake up! - Widespread Panic

Diver Down Flag
To caution nearby boaters, Florida law requires divers and snorkelers to display a “diver down” flag when in the water. The flag is a red square with a diagonal white strip extending across from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Wire or stiffener is used to keep the flag extended. This flag must adhere to certain measurement guidelines. It must measure at least 20 by 24 inches if displayed on a boat, and at least 12 by 12 inches if on a towed buoy.





Requirements for Boaters and Snorkelers
Boaters must try to stay at least 300 feet away from dive flags in open waters, and 100 feet away in rivers, inlets and navigation channels. Boaters who must approach a diver down flag must slow to the minimum speed. Likewise, a snorkeler must also take care to stay within 300 feet of his flag in open waters and within 100 feet when in rivers, inlets or navigation channels.

In this photo, boat location shows how far off the beach reefs are found.

Check out the incredible growth after a mere 2 months (Turtle Reef at Grayton Beach State Park)!

That's awesome!

Thanks for the update...

Absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing with us. SWARA just announced more Reef deployment coming to this Grayton Beach State Park Reef location starting early Saturday morning, and going through part of Sunday.

Absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing with us. SWARA just announced more Reef deployment coming to this Grayton Beach State Park Reef location starting early Saturday morning, and going through part of Sunday.

Changed: Deployment commences @ dawn on FRIDAY Oct.2nd continuing into part of Saturday 🙂

South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) will be deploying 37 additional snorkel reefs and one family memorial tetrahedron this weekend, beginning on October 2. SWARA would love for people to join! The best place to view the deployment is the Grayton Beach State Park beach walkover.



Read about the first artificial reef deployment at the Grayton Beach State Park location in July 2015 | SoWal.com feature story

I will be down there next week and am excited to check this out in my kayak. Really surprised there has not been more comments from people who have been out there on this. Hoping for calm seas next week 🙂

I will be down there next week and am excited to check this out in my kayak. Really surprised there has not been more comments from people who have been out there on this. Hoping for calm seas next week 🙂

The reef is excellent! I go often in my kayak. Weve had some rougher weather recently, so i havent been out as much. But it's really starting to attract the critters. Fishing there is great. And you'll see dolphins, sea turtles, all types of fish and birds. I saw people snorkeling and diving there this summer and the water is still plenty warm. Haven't done it myself, but it looks like fun.

Thanks for the update JT. I look forward to checking it out. Where are you launching your kayak from when you go here? Trying to get my bearings from the picture and where i might park to get close.

Thanks for the update JT. I look forward to checking it out. Where are you launching your kayak from when you go here? Trying to get my bearings from the picture and where i might park to get close.

I launch from Grayton, either from the Garfield access or the Western Lake boat ramp at the end of Hotz. From there, the reef is maybe a 1/2 mile paddle toward the state park. In the 2016 aerial photos, you can actually see the reef! I attached a picture.

so cool it shows up in the images now, THANKS FOR THE INFO!!! I hope to see this in person today, perhaps! The water has been fantastic!

Shouldn't fishing be illegal at a reef?

Shouldn't fishing be illegal at a reef?

Uh, that is sort of the point of creating them!

Fishing Artificial Reefs - Florida Sportsman