- December 13, 2025
The following is adapted from a July 15 county release.
As weather and sea conditions permit, Flagler County will be deploying its 10th artificial reef, the Grady Prather reef, in the next couple of days.
Located 13.8 nautical miles out to sea and slightly south of Matanzas Inlet, the reef will be installed in honor of the late Capt. Grady Prather. Prather dedicated his life to public service as a law enforcement officer with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and in his spare time he spent countless hours leading the volunteer artificial dive team effort. Prather’s work made it possible for Flagler County to get an artificial reef site approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
To pay for the project, Flagler County received a $51,750 grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The funds come from state salt water fishing license revenues and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Another grant of $20,000 was approved by the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District.
The total project cost is $71,750. Flagler County is also working with the county’s Artifical Reef Program volunteers, St. Johns County and Dell Marine.
Material for the reef was provided by St. Johns County from the material left after replacing two bridges on State Road A1A at Summer Haven. The material must be inspected and approved before it can be dropped in the ocean to create an artificial reef.
When conditions allow, Dell Marine will move the material, mostly concrete beams, to the site on a barge and use machinery to drop it into place.
County staff report that Grady Prather artificial reef will become a new habitat for sea life, and a hotspot for local divers.
