© Features the other presse Barbara K. Adamski e featureseditor@otherpress.ca January 21, 2004 That Sinking Feeling Oriana Evans OP Contributor Coming soon to the community of Comox: Cranes lower a Boeing 737 into the frigid waters. Weighed down with incoming water, the plane slowly becomes engulfed. No, this is not a special effects scene from a Hollywood movie, but one of many carefully orchestrated steps in the creation of an artificial reef. If the aircraft sinking were a scene from a movie, Tex Enemark, President of the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia, would be sitting in the direc- tor’s chair. As president, he oversees the Boeing Artificial Reef Project, but he is not acting alone. Already accumulating is a long list of credits, even before the actu- al placement of the plane in the surreal underwater environment. The plane won't be an available reef habitat to marine life until its sinking sometime in May. At the head of the credit list for the Boeing Artificial Reef Project would be the ARSBC, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization created in 1981 with the mission to “create and promote artificial reefs for use by scuba divers.” Even though the ARSBC has six other success- ful reef creations to their credit, for them, the process of creating an artificial reef remains a long and drawn out affair. The decision to use a plane instead of the usual retired naval destroyer may have added to the project's delay. Casting the donated Boeing 737 was a no-brainer for the ARSBC, which wel- comed the new twist to the usual storyline as well as the money saved. But similar to other stars, the Boeing 737 has to under- go a physical transformation (think Tom Hanks in Philadelphia) before it can play the part of artificial reef. A crew, consisting mostly of volunteers from the diving community, strips the plane of anything that may contaminate marine life or pose a danger to scuba divers. Approximately 75 man-months is invested to ensure a naval vessel environ- mentally and scuba friendly. The 737, however, is much smaller than a naval destroyer, and therefore requires fewer hours of preparation. Once submerged, the plane will quickly take on the characteristics of a reef—a challenging role were it not for the sup- porting cast, marine life. The plane will become inhabited by mussels, barnacles, and more, and subsequently become a source of food for other species such as rockfish, snails, and sea stars. The more variety of marine life found at the site, the greater the appeal to “destina- tion” divers—a term used to define divers geeks Page 20 e hittp://www.otherpress.ca who plan diving trips to destinations out- side their home area. The creation of the artificial reef not only spares sensitive nat- ural reefs and historic dive sites from ero- sion, but also in turn attracts new marine life and divers to an area once neglected. Altruistic intentions aside, the goal of the Artificial Reef Project is to ultimately increase destination dives in BC waters. Divers generate money for the eco- tourism industry in Comox. They book air flights and hotels, charter boats, rent equipment, and buy food in town. Tremendous potential for economic spin- offs exists with the right “box-office” draw. BC’s number one ranking as the Best Dive Destination in Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine's January/February 2003 issue could not have been more oppor- tune. The attractive exchange rate, the rich variety of fish, and now the sinking of a Boeing 737 should keep BC a contender for the number one position in the soon to appear 2004 issue. The Boeing 737 Artificial Reef Project could not have asked for better publicity. Positive press coverage can only boost the eco-tourism industry in the commu- nity of Comox, as it has done for other coastal communities such as Sechelt. Sechelt Inlet is already home to the Chaudiére, a naval destroyer located 500 feet from the planned Boeing site at Kunichin Point. The ARSBC’s preference of the Sechelt area for the Chaudiére dive site grew from the enthusiastic communi- ty support. Ten years prior, the small com- munity had raised thirty thousand dollars in three weeks for the sinking of the Chaudiére, their first artificial reef. Howe Sound, the original submersion site of the Boeing 737, failed to generate any com- munity support. Even with fantastic scenery, an exciting story, and a talented supporting cast and crew, red tape can hold back release dates. Environment Canada permit wrangling has set back the sinking date to sometime in May. Once the sinking does take place, it is a sure bet the ARSBC will begin work on the sequel. Note: The public is welcome at the Boeing 737 placement site on the day of the sinking. For up-to-date information on the Boeing 737 Artificial Reef Project or information on other wreck dives in BC waters, visit the ARSBC website at .