The city of Bunbury, in Western Australia, has approved the installation of the world's first inflatable surf reef at Back Beach.
Troy Bottegal, the inventor of Airwave, wants to deploy a 12-meter round inflatable dome on the ocean floor and in shallow waters. The two-meter-high bubble will help create perfect waves.
"Ten years ago, I sat at my local beach. Staring sadly at the infinite amount of closeouts, unable to motivate myself to paddle out, I asked myself how could I transform these closeouts into surfable, A-frame peaks?" explains Bottegal.
"After ten years of research, design, and product development, I'm ready to install and test a dome-shaped bladder that mimics a surf reef."
The Airwave by Waveco lifts, peaks, and holds the swell to create a concave, tapered wall of water that retains its shape as it peels toward the beach.
According to Bottegal, Airwave can be easily installed as close as 30 meters from the beach, and it is constructed from a super-resistant, environmentally safe compound.
"These features are very economical and affordable to install in multiple locations along any stretch of beach, creating multiple surf peaks. Six Airwave modules can be installed in around 14 days," adds Troy.
The Airwave is partially filled with air. A 1/20 scale prototype has already been successfully tested in fresh and salt water. The next stage is a full-scale installation.
But Troy Bottegal needs your help. The project is trying to secure funds via Kickstarter to drop in the pop-up reef in Bunbury. Airwave needs $181,290 to become a reality.