Florida reef plan founders

It was supposed to be a controlled sinking

By Fergal Parkinson BBC correspondent in the Florida Keys

In high winds off the Florida Keys, ex-Navy ship USS Spiegel Grove rests with its hull sticking out of the water buffeted by high waves.

When the ship is on the sea bed, the corals will start to grow

Rob Bleser

The controlled sinking of the 7,000-ton vessel had been an ambitious plan to create one of the world's largest artificial reefs, providing a new habitat for countless varieties of precious marine life - but it sank unexpectedly of its own accord just hours ahead of schedule.

The day began with an air of optimism - eight years of careful planning seemed about to pay off as the world's media gathered to watch the Spiegel Grove go down.

But during the final preparations on Friday, diving enthusiasts and conservationists watched with panic as the ship accidentally became overfilled with water and began to list.

Fragile ecosystem

The 40 staff preparing the ship had to be hurriedly evacuated on to a nearby tug boat, as the hull raised out of the water and the ship turned on to its side.

Reefs are good for the environment - and tourism

She finally rested upside down with equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars still on board.

The pristine aqua waters around Key Largo are among the most popular in the world for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Over the past decade the coral reefs throughout this area have begun to suffer from the ever-increasing tourist traffic.

Dozens of daily diving and snorkelling trips have damaged the ecosystem.

Clean-up

The sinking of the Spiegel Grove had been billed as the saviour to the natural coral reef.

Causes of coral decline

Pollution

Tourism

Fishing with dynamite, cyanide, or bleach

Coastal development

Changes in sea level

Diseases

Bleaching

Project workers knew from experience that ships sunk at sea attract a wide array of sea life.

"When the ship is on the sea bed, the corals will start to grow and the fish will start to inhabit it and it's going to be really productive," said project manager Rob Bleser.

For the past nine months he has overseen a big team as they have cleaned up the vessel, removing any chemicals, wiring and any other parts that might damage marine life they hope it will attract.