• Off Cap d'Agde is the largest maritime reserve in Occitania, prohibited to human activities, in order to preserve the fragility of biodiversity.

    In return, artificial reefs have been created to attract new species… and divers.

  • The highlight of the show is a 6.5 meter high underwater house produced in 3D by the Montpellier company Seaboost, submerged at a depth of 21 m.

  • For the seaside resort, these artificial reefs constitute a double challenge, ecological and touristic.

    “I compare this village of reefs to the Lascaux cave.

    To relieve the original, we made a magnificent copy, ”explains Mayor Gilles d’Ettore (LR).

Two nautical miles from Cap d'Agde, a barge lays down, one by one, the pieces of the artificial reef village.

Small modules, but also the natural rocks that will make up the scree pyramid and the highlight of the show, the main artificial reef: 105 tons, 6.5 meters high, 8 long, 6 wide.

“Its manufacturing process is a world first,” explains Geoffrey Capet, design engineer at Seaboost, the company that produced these artificial reefs in 3D printing.

"Low-carbon concrete printing makes it possible to obtain the most biometric designs possible," continues the specialist.

The small cavities are colonized by juveniles, small crustaceans.

In the largest cavities, we will find larger fish or crustaceans such as lobsters.

As for the surface of the rocks, it is very porous and rough, which makes it possible to obtain a grip for the gorgonians and for the algae”.

A global project at 1.4 million euros

This artificial reef village is the final touch of a more global project called Recif lab, started in 2018. Its total cost: around 1.4 million euros, including 600,000 euros for this reef village.

80% was financed by Ademe, the Occitanie region and the State via the littoral plan 21. The remaining 20% ​​by the seaside resort.

"Since 2018, instead of tires weighted with concrete, as has been done for fifty years on the station, many artificial reefs have been submerged", underlines Renaud Dupuy of the Grandrive, who watches over the marine area of ​​the Cap d'Agde, vast 6,000 ha.

“Whether for the eco-designed pontoons in the port or the rocky area of ​​Brescou, the 34 beacons in the 300 m zone or the artificial reefs in the port”.

So many structures that allow flora and fauna to find places safe from predators to flourish.

"Feedback on the artificial structures already submerged, especially under the 300m buoys, are extremely positive," continues Geoffrey Capet, from Seaboost.

The Montpellier company specializes in solutions for restoring and developing biodiversity at sea.

The largest marine reserve in Occitania

For the Hérault seaside resort, these artificial reefs constitute a double challenge, ecological and touristic.

Preserve biodiversity and allow diving clubs to continue their activity.

Off Agde is the largest protected marine reserve in Occitanie, which covers 310 ha.

All human activity is prohibited, including parking.

“In return, we brought this innovative device, the design of which was done in consultation with the diving clubs, continues Renaud Dupuy of the Grandrive.

It is an ecotourism project with both the biodiversity that we are trying to reclaim, and a real tourist attraction for the diving clubs of Cap d'Agde and elsewhere.

In total, with this project, 1,630 m2 of surfaces have become colonizable and 430 m3 of habitat volume have been created.

3,100 boats anchor in the Cap d'Agde marina, near one of the few Mediterranean coasts made up of rocks.

Real hotspots for fauna and flora, gorgonians and coralligenous algae.

A beautiful place, but extremely fragile.

“I compare this village of reefs to the Lascaux cave.

To relieve the original, we made a magnificent copy, ”summarizes Mayor Gilles d’Ettore (LR).

Designed to withstand 52 tons of horizontal thrust

The underwater house is exceptional in size and 3D design.

“We had to offer a structure that would attract divers.

Something large where divers would find their account, underlines Geoffrey Capet.

Whether by the presence of abundant fauna and flora, or by its aesthetic and playful side with caves, passages, columns that allow divers an unforgettable experience.

For us, the challenge was in the size.

Submerged at a depth of 21 m, it was necessary to size something that could withstand a 30-year return swell, i.e. 52 tonnes of horizontal thrust.

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A challenge resulting from local know-how, since it was built and assembled in Sète.

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