This list provides general information about the sites in the Volusia County Artificial Reef System. Click on the site title line or map to get additional information about the individual sites, including details about each artificial reef location within the site, historical and construction information, and Global Positioning System (GPS) location data.
Site 1 - Culverts, Reef Balls and the Argoil Barge
Site 1 was permitted by the Corps of Engineers in 1979. It is 10.8 nm from the inlet. The first culverts were placed on the center of the site in 1990. The old culverts and the barge Argoil are popular fishing locations. These are excellent locations for divers to see invertebrates that not usually found in the Keys and south Florida. Depths range from 60-80 ft.
Site 2 - Culverts, Railroad Ties and the Semarca
Site 2 is a very popular bottom fishing and trolling location. It is near Cracker Ridge, a few miles west of the Party Grounds natural reef. The northwest corner of the site connects with site 13. This area had numerous scattered concrete reefs that were deployed in the early 1980s. Many of these smaller deployments are sanded over. In 1994, a 76 foot steel ship called the Semarca was reefed. By 2014, many additional concrete piles were added for a total of 9 marked piles. It is our goal to investigate the northwest area of this site to get the deployments from the early 1980s added to the map.
Site 2 is approximately 12.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 067°. The site is approximately 12.5 nm offshore at a depth of about 75 feet.
Site 3 - Mindanao, Rio Yuna, Culverts, and More
Site 3 is best known for its shipwrecks, with five vessels of various sizes on which to dive and fish. Site 3 is approximately 10.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 048°. The site is approximately 10 nm offshore at a depth of 75-85 ft.
Site 4 - Maxine D, Antilles Star, and Culverts
Site 4 is another excellent site with shipwrecks and culverts. Site 4 is approximately 16.7 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 028°. The site is approximately 14 nm offshore at a depth of 70-80 ft.
Site 5 - Culverts, Stuctures, Steel, and More
Site 5 a popular site because it on the way to the other sites and it's closer to shore, only out about 5.4 nm. The site is approximately 5.4 nm from the Bell Buoy at a heading of 070°, with an average depth of about 65 ft. Visibility may be only 10 feet near low tide because of the proximity to Ponce Inlet; visibility often improves in the summer before and after cold water upwelling or later in the fall after the hurricanes have passed. Grouper, sea bass, flounder, mangrove snapper, and a variety of colorful soft corals (and many boats) are usually on the site.
Site 6 - Culverts, a Barge, and More
Site 6 has a variety of structures, making it an interesting dive and fishing site. Site 6 is 9.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 100°, putting it about 8.4 nm offshore. Average depth at the site is 60 ft.
Site 7 - Culverts , Concrete, and Water Barge
Site 7 is a good location to find mangrove snapper and sheepshead. The site is 11.7 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of approximately 107°. It is approximately 9 nm offshore and depths are 55-60 ft.
Site 8 - Culverts
Site 8 is 13.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 134°, putting it only a few miles offshore. While a good site to fish for mangrove snapper and other bottom fish, it is not a popular SCUBA location because it is far from the inlet, often has poor visibility, and has problems with shifting sands. This site is no longer an active permitted site.
Site 9 - Ship and Planes
Site 9 is approximately 33 nm offshore, making it the furthest offshore site in the system. It is approximately 32.8 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 059°. It is a popular deep water (135 ft.) fishing site.
Site 10 - Concrete and Culverts
Site 10 is the most northern site in the Volusia County artificial reef system, approximately 10 nm offshore of Ormond Beach. The site is 17.2 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 012° with a depth of 65-70 ft. Site 10 always has a wide variety of fish.
Site 11 - Concrete and Culverts
Site 11 is 15.7 nm NE of the inlet, at a bearing of 041° from the Bell Buoy. The site is approximately 13 miles offshore with a depth of approximately 80 ft. Since the first deposit in 2001, the site has developed a variety of fish and soft corals.
Site 12 - Culverts, Concretes, and Poles
Site 12 is 9.6 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 041°. At about 9 nm offshore, the site has a depth of approximately 75 ft. Although further offshore, Site 12 is a good alternate site to visit when Site 5 is crowded.
Site 13 - Culverts, Poles, and Railroad Ties
Site 13 is 12 nm from the inlet at a bearing of 063° from the Bell Buoy. At 12 nm offshore, it is a good place to stop and fish when going to or from the Party Grounds natural reef. Depths at the site are 75-80 ft.
Site 14 - Flagler Ave. Inshore Reef
The Site 14 Flagler Ave Reef is the closest Volusia County reef to Ponce Inlet; it is a mere 2.2 nm from the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 165°. It is about a mile offshore, just east of Flager Ave. in New Symrna Beach, and depths are 35-45 ft. Unlike the majority of the offshore reefs which are shaped like a square, the inshore reefs are more irregularly shaped.
Site 15 - Sunglow Pier Inshore Reef
Site 15 is located less than a mile southeast of Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach Shores. It is 5.4 nm north of the Bell Buoy at a bearing of 322°. The site depth is 40-50 ft. Unlike the majority of the offshore reefs which are shaped like a square, the inshore reefs are more irregularly shaped.
