The Reef Project

ARC Marine has created the worlds first multi-functional artificial reef solution. With a strong, modular design, our reef systems protect against depth trawling, provide a superior marine habitat, can act as a robust anchor point for cages and buoys, and can protect marine structures and coastlines against underwater currents and erosion.

Our ARC Module being put in place

Our first reef will be built at Vobster Quay, an inland water site and former quarry that is popular with divers. We chose this location due to it being one of the registered Ark sites that host a regeneration program for the UK’s indigenous white-clawed freshwater crayfish population, which is dying out due to habitat destruction and the invasive, aggressive US breed. This species is classed as globally endangered and at risk of becoming extinct in the UK within 20-30 years.

Our ARC Modules, an example of British engineering ingenuity, are incredibly cost-effective, which means we can dramatically reduce the overall investment required to build large-scale offshore reefs.

The idea of funding an artificial reef structure like this with community funds was previously unheard of, now it’s a serious reality. We just need your help!

From our humble beginnings as a small British startup, we’re now ready to build our first reef – the most important step we’ve taken so far in our mission to save the world’s oceans and waterways. We are supported by many different companies who all believe our ARC Modules are the way to go.

A huge thanks to our current supporters and collaborators

Rewards

We want you to take all the credit!!! That’s right, we don’t even want the modules to be ours. We’ve chosen crowdfunding over commercial sales or grant funding because the oceans and waterways are meant for everyone, and solving the serious problems of marine conservation belong to us all. 

In return for supporting our campaign, whether it’s a £5 donation or £50,000 to have a whole reef named after you or your company, every person counts when it comes to conserving life here on earth. With the help of our partners, we’ve lined up some fantastic rewards that will only be available for this campaign. All supporters of our crowdfunding campaign will receive email updates and pictures of completed reef as well as a surfboard/boat sticker.

On top of this, other rewards include dive memberships, exclusive educational talks and the chance to come and visit the reef you helped create. We also have a limited number of Aria full face dive masks available and a chance to have your very own persnalised ARC Module which will leave your legacy underwater for 500 years. 

For £25,000 your very own reef similar to this could be added to the Vobster Quay Ark site.  Which would not only last for an estimated 500 years but would also enable us to deploy juvenile crayfish onto the reef.

Your personalised plaque on your very own ARC Module

Limited reward. We have 10 of these Aria full face dive masks to give away.

All pledges will receive this sticker which can be used on cars, boats, surfboards or other surfaces.

We want to give you the unique opportunity to join us in bringing this groundbreaking project to life. With your help, we can create this reef together and leave a lasting positive impact for over 500 years.

So if you have a passion for life, our environment and protecting endangered species, then this is the project for you.

ARC Marine's growth

 Timeline of ARC Marine's progress so far
This pie chart shows how the money raised from this crowdfund campaign will be spent.

Thank you.

*Scuba Diving  and Free diving (snorkelling) voucher at Vobster: Please note, you need to be a qualified diver to undertake diving activities at Vobster. This voucher may only be used by qualified divers, but is transferable on a single entry basis to a friend of the crowdfunder who is a qualified diver.

PADI diving at Vobster: Diving tuition awards are open to crowdfunders who can complete a standard recreational diving medical. For more information, please see www.vobster.com, but please also note that many conditions such as medication, asthma, major surgery and blood pressure require additional examination by a GP before diving is undertaken.

Diving tuition awards are also limited to courses where three students are already booked and on dates publicised on the Vobster website. Bespoke dates are not available for free tuition. Free tuition does not cover additional days that may be required through non attendance or non completion of original programme - for additional days, extra charges
will apply.

Swimming entry at Vobster: Experienced open water swimmers are welcome to use the free entry voucher at Vobster provided they swim in a buddy pair with an existing open water swimmer. Vobster is cold, even in summer and a wetsuit is recommended. If the eligible crowdfunder is not an experienced open water swimmer, tuition is available, which must be pre-booked and is at extra charge - entry is still free.