Bound for deep water

Reef balls await loading onto a barge July 9 at a Manatee County commercial dock at the southeast end of Coquina Beach for deployment in an artificial reef program. The program managed by the county natural resources department enhances marine habitats and supports recreational fishing and diving. Artificial reefs attract diverse marine life and generate more than $19 million in economic output and help sustain more than 230 full- and parttime jobs in the county, according to a Florida Sea Grant study. Islander Photo: Courtesy Capt. Scott Moore