Seasearch divers have found what could be the world's longest chalk reef off East Anglia
Natural 'Stonehenge' discovered underwater
MCS supporter and Seasearch diver, Rob Spray, has discovered what could be the world's longest chalk reef off the coast of Norfolk. Rob, who led the team of Seasearch divers who made the stunning discovery, said is was like finding an underwater Stonehenge.
The reef, thought to be 20 miles long, lies a short way off shore and is only about 25ft under the surface. Rob and his team were surveying the area and thought they had found a small reef, but as their survey continued and they discovered large arches and deep gullies, they realised they had dived onto something unique.
The reef is home to an amazing number and diversity of wildlife and has already been dubbed 'Britain's Great Barrier Reef'. By comparison, the Thanet Coast Chalk Reefs are only about 14 miles long.
Living on the reef are at least thee species never recorded before in the area including the leopard spotted goby, the blush-red strawberry anemone and the Atlantic ancula sea slug.
Now Rob and his team are keen to see this whole area designated as a Marine Protected Zone. The MCS 'Your Seas Your Voice' project has already recmmended that the Sheringham and Weybourne Chalk Gullies, which lie closer to the coast than the newsly discovered reef, becomes an MPZ. Find out more about the area at http://www.yourseasyourvoice.com/mpa/?region=2&site=5
You can read about this amazing find here http://bit.ly/eHUs3G
