A diver with In Depth, Inc. prepares for underwater operations during the ongoing reconstruction of the Flagler Beach Pier. Photo courtesy of In Depth, Inc..
Debris removed from the seafloor near the Flagler Beach Pier as part of ongoing reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Ian. Photo courtesy of In Depth, Inc..
Debris removed from the seafloor near the Flagler Beach Pier as part of ongoing reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Ian. Photo courtesy of In Depth, Inc..
Crews continue work on the reconstruction of the Flagler Beach Pier as the project moves forward toward a targeted 2027 opening. Photo courtesy of In Depth, Inc..
A diver with In Depth, Inc. prepares for underwater operations during the ongoing reconstruction of the Flagler Beach Pier. Photo courtesy of In Depth, Inc..
Equipment used during underwater debris removal operations sits near the reconstruction site of the Flagler Beach Pier. Photo courtesy of In Depth, Inc..
Construction continues on the Flagler Beach Pier. Photo by Scott Spradley
Construction on the long-awaited rebuilding of the Flagler Beach Pier continues to move steadily forward, with local officials saying the project remains on schedule while a Flagler County-based dive company recently completed a key portion of the work beneath the waterline.
During last week’s Meet the Mayors event, Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin said the city’s most significant ongoing project remains the reconstruction of the iconic pier, which suffered catastrophic damage during Hurricane Ian in 2022.
“The construction of the pier is on schedule and currently on budget,” Martin said, adding that substantial completion is expected in January with final completion anticipated in February. He also noted there is still a possibility the city could “shoot our new fireworks off the end of the new pier on December 31st.”
Additional updates on the project were provided by Flagler Beach City Commissioner Scott Spradley, who said visible progress has accelerated in recent weeks as crews continue installing concrete pilings offshore.
“The construction of the pier is going very well at present,” Spradley said. “Everything is on schedule and it looks like we're going to see a grand opening in the first quarter of 2027, provided we don't have substantial delays from hurricane season this year.”
Spradley said he recently visited the beach to observe the work firsthand and was surprised by how much progress had been made.
“It’s amazing the number of concrete pilings that they've embedded in the last several weeks,” Spradley said. “I was surprised to see how far along they are. So it's looking great.”
The commissioner also noted the redesigned pier is being built significantly higher than the previous structure in an effort to better withstand future storms and rising sea levels.
“You can already tell in comparing its height to the area of the Funky Pelican Restaurant, you can see how much higher it's going to be,” Spradley said. “It's approximately 10 feet higher than the other pier to account for sea level rising and hurricane damage.”
Helping clear the way for that new construction was In Depth, Inc., a commercial diving and marine construction company based in Bunnell that recently completed a critical underwater phase of the project.
Working as a subcontractor for prime contractor Vecellio and Grogan, the company’s dive team conducted underwater recovery and debris removal operations at the pier site, including removing broken piling stubs and clearing the seafloor footprint for the new structure.
Using hydraulic chainsaws and specialized rigging equipment, divers removed debris left behind from Hurricane Ian’s destruction of the original pier before conducting a final sweep of the construction area to ensure crews could safely proceed with rebuilding efforts.
For In Depth President Zach Rogers, the project represented more than just another marine construction job.
“We are proud to play a key role in the development of this new pier,” Rogers said. “As long-time residents of Flagler County, we are honored to serve the residents of the county in the redevelopment of this iconic pier.”
Senior Project Manager Danny Broadhurst also praised the collaboration with Vecellio and Grogan.
“Vecellio & Grogan's team is dedicated to constructing a great asset for Flagler Beach and the county,” Broadhurst said. “We're very proud to be a part of it and appreciate that they chose a local commercial diving company for the subsurface work onsite.”
Founded in 2017, In Depth, Inc. has grown into a full-service commercial diving and marine construction company serving a wide range of industries and clients across the region. The company provides marine construction, underwater inspections, environmental remediation, dredging, underwater welding, bridge rehabilitation, dock repairs, hurricane response and emergency management services for government agencies, utilities, ports and private sector clients.
The pier reconstruction project remains one of the most visible and anticipated infrastructure efforts underway in Flagler County, with local leaders continuing to frame the project as a symbol of the community’s recovery and resilience following Hurricane Ian.
