Reef Ball Installation.
Reef Ball Installation and Inspection on a deep water project.
Islands are my passion, that’s a well known fact, so discovering special things about Grand Cayman and the Grand Cayman Marriott delights me. I’ve experienced just a sliver of Grand Cayman but what I’ve uncovered is a welcoming attitude and a sense of responsibility to the island and an attention to detail by the Marriott Resort and its staff.
The Marriott Grand Cayman has taken environmentally responsible steps to protect and preserve the beach in front of the hotel. Marriott with the help of Red Sail Sports and marine biologists installed over four hundred man made reef balls in 2002. These reef balls over time are creating a man made coral reef which encourages sea life while protecting the beach and helping to prevent beach damage due to beach erosion and tropical storms.
Before this project began 7 Mile Beach was seriously eroded. The beach naturally varied from year to year due to storms but serious erosion and damage was taking place. This project used Reef Balls which are used in over 59 countries around the world to aid in protecting beaches, rehabilitating damaged coral reefs and rebuilding mangroves.
“Reef Balls are the world’s leading designed artificial reef modules. They are simply the safest and most effective way to create sustainable marine reef habitat. With over 10 different sizes and 20+ styles, they have been tailored to meet nearly any artificial reef project’s goals and they will achieve this in a safe, long term, environmental way.”
This link to the Reef Ball Organization offers a view of how Reef Balls work and how they are made. According to the Reef Ball Foundation, these reef projects many times use a combination of marine biologists, eco tourist volunteers and hotel/resort assistance to support and complete the project. Reef balls are placed and coral plugs are planted and propagated by resorts and eco volunteers which over time will grow coral buds and grow into coral colonies.
Participating in such a project is just another example of how Marriott Resorts pays attention to details and helps to care for the islands their resorts call home. * Other beach sustaining projects are in place on Aruba and St Kitts, in conjunction with Marriott Resorts and the island governments.
*This trip was provided by Marriott Paradise Resorts and the Marriott Grand Cayman Beach Resort.