As mentioned the Dutch are very enthusiastic, so the project in the south-western province of Zeeland turned out to be a major one.
Bastian Mathijsen from the DC “Duikzentrum de Kabbelaar” launched the idea at the Dutch Dive Show early 2001, to create a cooperation of several DCs to increase the quantity of the forms. His plan to build three different reefs, each consisting of 100 moulds, was supported by two other DCs, the “De Grevelingen” and the “Waterworld”. When the national divers association, The Nederlandse Onderwatersport Bond, volunteered to arrange for financial and technical support from the Dutch Government all problems were solved.
A small harbour in the Grevelingen Sea offered ideal building conditions. All 300 Reef Balls were built within six weeks, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of everybody. Also a so called Dive Mobile came in very handy, as it prevented everybody from being inhibited by the permanent rain.
Bastian Mathijsen’s reef was the first one to be immerged on October 11. He chose his home waters of the Sharendyke as site of settlement and even mustered the Royal Army to place the numerous Reef Balls.
The settlement of the 200 remaining forms is scheduled for the spring of 2002 in the region of “De Grevelingen”.
