DEACON DIVERS train to build artificial reef off S.C. coast

Dr. Tom Mullikin, chairman of the S.C. Floodwater Commission, is pictured here with academics from Columbia International University (CIA), members of Malvern Hill Baptist Church in Camden, and Global Eco Adventures (GEA) during SCUBA training in Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 4.

“The dive training we’re conducting for this group of religious leaders and naturalists is part of our building an army of divers to help construct an artificial reef along the South Carolina coast,” said Mullikin, founding president of GEA. “The reef will serve not only as a platform for ocean, wave, atmospheric, and floodwater modeling and monitoring technology – which is key to our work at the Floodwater Commission – but it will greatly enhance the area fish habitat and the overall coastal eco-system: Benefiting all South Carolinians and our coastal dwelling neighbors in North Carolina and Georgia in myriad ways.”

Mullikin led the day’s training with Dr. Mike Langston, professor of practical theology and chaplaincy at CIU and other dive masters that included Dr. David A. Croteau, Dean of the Seminary and School of Ministry at CIU.

The training was held at USC’s Solomon Blatt Physical Education Center.

The next phase of dive-certification training is “open-water” which is slated to be held, spring 2022, in Florida.

– For more information about Global Eco Adventures, visit globalecoadventures.org..