Tioman Island DHL Reef Restoration Program with Reef Balls

Among the pioneer artificial reef projects in Malaysia, the Pahang Regent's Reef project was recorded in the Malaysian Book of Records as the first of its kind in Malaysia using 50 concrete reef balls, each weighing at 300kg arranged in a diamond-shaped formation. Located just offshore near Pulau Renggis, this site which is under the patronage of the Pahang Regent, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, is extended every year at the end of the diving season in the east coast. DHL Malaysia has conducted a Reef Restoration Program in conjunction with World Environmental Day (WED) 2004. The program was carried out at Tioman Island and sees the DHL team and members of the media deploying artificial reef balls onto the sea bed. The deployment of the reef balls restores ailing coral reefs and will create a new fishing and scuba diving site. Prior to deployment the team conducted a survey to test for water suitability for coral growth, water current movement and sea bed stability. There will also be regular maintenance and monitoring of the progress of the propagated corals.