Dive Attractions

Artistic rendering of divers exploring Wonder Reef with abundant marine flora and fauna. Image supplied by the City of Gold Coast.

We have worked on two impressive underwater art precinct projects to date. Both projects incorporate our vision to enable ocean communities to thrive.

Wonder Reef on the Gold Coast

Wonder Reef on the Gold Coast will be the most iconic underwater artwork in the world. It is the result of a very productive collaboration between Subcon, the Gold Coast City Council and artist Daniel Templeman. This incredible dive attraction will pioneer floating reef engineering 30m under the surface of the sea with living reef sculptures reaching 20m in height. The sculptural conical flutes designed by Daniel Templeman will tower above the seafloor creating a beautiful floating ecosystem we call Wonder Reef.

You can book your dive here: www.wonderreef.com.au.

Dive below for this Virtual Tour of Buoyant on the Gold Coast

Coogee Maritime Trail

Our Coogee Maritime Trail has created one of the world’s largest living harbour projects with over 100 metric tonnes and 5000m2 of habitat. The maritime trail integrates the Omeo wreck with multiple artworks and over 50 purpose-built structures. Numerous artworks including a 5m diameter starfish with a swim through opening provide many points of interest for snorkelers and scuba divers alike. The trail also incorporates seaweed gardens which capture carbon dioxide, a juvenile fish nursery and three reef pyramids to provide habitat for demersal finfish. Finally, it also incorporates the world’s first geopolymer reef modules, paving the way for future low carbon footprint substrates to be deployed worldwide.

The Coogee Maritime Trail applies the Subcon Integrated Artificial Reef concept to coastal developments. It demonstrates how owners of coastal infrastructure can create facilities that promote community well being and cohesion, integrate into the natural environment and promote abundant fisheries. The trail is designed to inspire and inform divers about the challenges faced by our oceans.

To learn more contact our team at info@subcon.com.

FAQ’s

What is a Purpose-Built Reef?

A purpose-built reef is a engineered reef structure or substrate that mimics the ecosystem services provided by a natural reef substrate. You can think of the engineered reef structure as the back bone of the reef, on which natural life can grow. Purpose-built reefs are typically constructed for:

increasing or restoring populations of marine plants and animals
coastal protection (e.g. controlling beach erosion)
recreational use (e.g. fishing, diving)
aquaculture (e.g. ranching for abolone or finfish)

Subcon have developed over 20 purpose built reefs all over the world for different applications.

The Gold Coast Dive Attraction will be Australia’s first reef specifically engineered for recreational diving. It will be purpose-built to attract a diverse range of marine life and maximise diver experience and safety.

What is an Art Reef?

Our Art Reefs create iconic bucket list destinations for divers, recreational options for young people and educational opportunities for students. But theres more to it than simply encouraging tourism.

Art reefs are a beautiful fusion of Art, Science and Engineering that explore what is possible when we aspire to integrate coastal infrastructure into the environment.

Most importantly, Subcon’s art communicates the importance of our marine environment. by creating a sense of beauty and exploring the nature of perception we aim to inspire the viewers to explore, experience and conserve our wonderful oceans.

What is the Gold Coast Dive Attraction?

The dive attraction includes a purpose-built reef, moorings and navigational markers specifically designed to attract and sustain a wide diversity of marine life, in turn providing a world-class diving experience.

What are the economic benefits of a dive attraction?

The world has seen enormous growth in the coastal and aquatic activities market.

For exapmle the Gold Coast is well placed to harness the untapped potential of the dive tourism market. It is estimated that in its first 10 years of operation the Gold Coast dive attraction will:

inject $32.8 million into the region’s economy (including investment costs, regional flow on and tourism benefit) during the first 10 years of operation
generate 166,543 new overnight visitors to the Gold Coast with the specific intention of diving and/or snorkelling
support 80.8 full time jobs by year 10 of operations
generate an estimated 18.3 full time positions during the two year construction period.