June 16, 2007 Monitoring Post Hurricane (WIlma)

Wilma hit Cozumel on Oct 21, 2005 with winds over 140 MPH and a duration of over 72 hours). All sculptures in this shallow water project were lost except one. Large boulders were tossed around in the area like dice for long periods of time. The surviving sculpture (which was built by Julie of Down With Art under the supervision of the Reef Ball Development Group) was about 9 feet tall and weights over 14 tons. It was loaded with fish and had it's fouling community dominated by Millapora (fire coral). Most of the large boulders that where left as debris by the storm have been gathered in piles by the property owner and are also functioning to produce fish habitat. The property, Club Cozumel Caribe, is now back in business being sold as timeshare apartments. The snorkeling area is bouyed and there is now a nice entrance ladder. -Monitoring by Todd Barber, Chairman Reef Ball Foundation & Salvador Quiroz Enniss (Reef Ball Coral Team Level II / Designer of Sri Lanka Reef Ball Lotus)