Skip to main content
x

New Florida Reef Built Thanks to Kenny Chesney

Thirteen reef balls recently deployed half-a-mile off the coast of Delray Beach, Florida are the start of a 32-acre park.
By Melissa Smith | Published On January 24, 2021
Share This Article :

New Florida Reef Built Thanks to Kenny Chesney

Reef Ball deployment

Reef Balls are prepared for deployment off the coast of Delray Beach.

Courtesy No Shoes Reefs/Reef Ball Foundation

Kenny Chesney is bringing an artificial coral reef to Delray Beach, Florida.

No Shoes Reefs, a grassroots conservation organization spearheaded by the country singer, recently kicked off development of a 32-acre artificial reef park off the coast of Delray Beach, Florida in partnership with marine organizations.

“Many people don’t realize both how fragile and resilient the ocean’s ecosystems are, and I think it’s the small projects that raise awareness on local levels that help people understand the ocean is a living thing,” Chesney says in a press release. “It’s a wonderful way to build the No Shoes Nation community of people who care about the ocean, the beach and our whole way of life.”

Diver deploying Reef Ball

A diver guides a Reef Ball to the sea floor.

Courtesy No Shoes Reefs/Reef Ball Foundation

Construction of No Shoes Reefs 4—named for its four founding partners—began with the deployment of 13 “reef balls” by Global SubDive about a half-mile offshore Delray Beach. The 10,000-pound, 7-by-6-foot structures enable coral growth in the area and attract other wildlife.

No Shoes Reefs logo

The No Shoes Reefs logo stamped on a Reef Ball.

Courtesy No Shoes Reefs/Reef Ball Foundation

“Improving and creating sustainable fisheries and protecting Florida’s marine environment is CCA Florida’s lifeblood,” says Frank Gidus, CCA Florida Director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration, in the release. This partnership is a “symbiotic relationship sharing the same goal – to improve our coastal environments and waterways for today and for generations to come.”

To teach these future generations about what’s going on below the waves, No Shoes Reefs 4 will provide educational opportunities for Palm Beach County students through the local Sandoway Discovery Center. The center facilitates students’ participation in monitoring the budding reefs.

And, of course, there will be plenty of new habitat for divers to explore. The artificial reef system will enhance local marine life, fisheries, water quality, and tourism like diving an angling — the same activities Chesney enjoys when he’s not on stage.

“No Shoes Reefs is an extension of how I have tried to live for many, many years,” Chesney says. “Love the water, give back to the water.”