Updates:

October 11, 2025

We have reached our fundraising goal of $10,000! A big thank you to all who contributed!

Through our various outreach efforts, Marine Repair Services Container Maintenance Corp., which has facilities at the Savannah Port, reached out to Brian Gale. Brian and I met onsite with them this past week. They have agreed to donate two shipping containers, and they will remove the doors, and cut the holes in the sides to the SCDNR specifications. Our only cost will be for delivery to Broad Creek Marina!

As soon as we know more about the delivery schedule, we will be announcing plans to have a container decorating party!

Check back with us, or better yet go to the Connect With Us tab and register for email and/or text updates.

September 2025

Shortly after Captain Nate Riley passed way in July of 2024, family and friends began to seek ways to honor his memory and his love of fishing. Expanding an existing offshore reef, or even building a new one, was one of the very early ideas we considered. However, initial inquiries suggested that costs would be beyond what we could take on. But then a family-friend, Brian Gale, proposed a cost-effective solution involving used shipping containers towed aboard his barge to the Whitewater Reef.

We owe particular thanks to Ryan Yaden, the Artificial Reef Program Coordinator at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) for his input and guidance; and for supporting the expansion of the Whitewater Reef, in an area to be known as Captain Nate’s Oasis, at the following coordinates:

32 03.018 -080 44.719

We also wish to thank the following for their advice, guidance and support: Brian Gale with Daufuskie Island Transportation and Island Boat Works; Erik Delong and Scott Whitaker at the Coastal Conservation Association of South Carolina; and Nate Jones at Broad Creek Marina. Russell Patterson with the Hilton Head Island Reef Foundation has offered invaluable advice and enabled us to conduct this fundraiser under the auspices of the Foundation, meaning your donation is tax deductible.

We see this expansion of the Whitewater Reef as a very fitting tribute to Captain Nate, who was always up for an offshore fishing trip. Nate loved the opportunity to share his love of fishing with others. Knowing that this reef will serve sports fishermen and recreational divers for many years to come is particularly gratifying. We hope the success of this first project will lead to more in the future.

Keep checking back with us and thanks for your support!