Updates:

March 3, 2026

Sunday morning started with a mobile phone alert about fog. It was supposed to clear by 9 am, but of course Nate was messing with us and the fog stayed with us for much longer! Next was an alert with photos from this date over the years, including a pic of Nate and a fish he caught on 3-1-2021. Kenzie texted that when Ryder woke up, he went straight to his toy box and retrieved his toy fishing pole. He knew what today was! We arrived at Shelter Cove Marina in time to see the barge The Rum Runner off. We when boarded the Gullah Gal with Captain Mike and headed to Whitewater Reef and the site of Captain Nate’s Oasis. When we passed The Rum Runner just off the beaches of Hilton Head Island, we recognized how fortunate we were that the forecast for calm seas had come true. As other boats arrived out of the mist, the barge prepared to unload its cargo of beautifully decorated containers and a lovingly adorned block containing Nate’s ashes. That’s when the fog lifted, the sun appeared, and we had us a beautiful day! The containers quickly sank to the bottom, more ashes were spread on the water, and Ryder was the first to “fish” his daddy’s reef. It won’t be the last time!

Words will never capture how much we miss Nate, but we thank him daily for bringing Kenzie, Ellie, Ryder and her extended family, into our lives! This has been an emotion-filled journey, so we will rest for now, and then consider if there is support for expanding Captain Nate’s Oasis!

March 1, 2026 - update

Sunday was an amazing day. Thanks to all who supported us and cheered us on throughout this effort. See below for some photos. Videos, including drone footage, coming soon. Captain Nate will live in our memories, and his Oasis will be a recreational resource for anglers and divers for years to come.

Big thanks to Russell Patterson and the Hilton Head Reef Foundation, who provided early guidance and our first donation. Thanks to Scott Whitaker and Erik Delong at the Coastal Conservation Association of SC for early guidance and advice. Much thanks to Ryan Yaden at SCDNR for walking us through the process. Thanks to Nate Jones and the entire crew at Broad Creek Marina who were so good to Nate and have been so good to us; thanks for storing the containers and getting them on the barge. Thanks to Brian Gale and all the crew at Daufuskie Island Transport. Brian brought us an idea from his brother Jeff that morphed into Captain Nate’s Oasis. Their barge The Rum Runner did all the heavy lifting! Sam and Malcolm Claxton at Marine Repair Services Container Maintenance Corp, found us and donated the used shipping containers. Their sister company, Epic Concepts, LLC prepped the containers to SCDNR specs - much appreciation to Patrick Graham. Appreciation to Containerize Corp. for delivering the containers to Broad Creek Marina.

March 1, 2026

Today is the day!! The barge is loaded and ready to head out to sea this morning. Check back in a few days for photos from today’s trip to the site of Captain Nate’s Oasis and the delivery of the containers.

February 25, 2026

A weather window has opened! We will be taking the decorated containers out to Whitewater Reef on Sunday March 1 and deposit them in the place designated for Captain Nate’s Oasis! Friday afternoon, the containers will be placed onto the barge. Want to watch the loading, or head out to sea with us to build the reef? Click on “Connect with Us” in the top right corner and let us know! No boat? We will send details and find you a ride!

January 25, 2026

Thanks to all who came out yesterday to help us decorate these shipping containers! Now to deliver them to Captain Nate’s Oasis (32 03.018 - 080 44.719). Pics below. Will keep you posted as we look for the perfect weather window.

For those who ordered merchandise through FSG, those items will start shipping this week. And Rhianne Designs has new designs and styles. Check them out at www.rhianne-designs.printify.me.

January 19, 2026

Our primer painting team has completed their work and these containers are ready for you to come and use your artistic talents and share some love with Captain Nate!

Please stop by this Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 11 to 3 at Broad Creek Marina.

We will have sub platters, snacks and drinks. Fish Camp will be open if you desire something else; and one of the food trucks may also be open.

January 11, 2026

Please join us for our Captain Nate’s Oasis Container Decorating Party! 

January 24, 2026, from 11 to 3 at Broad Creek Marina

We will be cooking some hotdogs and will have water on hand.  There are two restaurants and two food trucks nearby if you need something else!

We will have some paint and painting supplies, but you are welcome to bring your own.  Please, nothing toxic.  And please be careful with spray paint.  There are boats, vehicles and buildings nearby; not to mention other painters and their work!

Kids will be present!  Please: no offensive messages!

If you cannot make it on January 24th, you can stop by anytime with your own paint and supplies.  Please be respectful of Broad Creek Marina’s property and the artwork of others.

November 13, 2025

Epic Concepts, LLC, a sister company of Marine Repair Services Container Maintenance Corp., completed the preparation of our two 20-foot shipping containers. They turned out great!! Containerize Corp delivered them to Broad Creek Marina earlier this week. Take a look below! Looks like the decorating of the containers will have to slip until after the holidays. Stay tuned! We are very close to announcing availability of shirts and hats. And we still have the postcards mentioned in the 10/29 update.

October 29, 2025

Marine Repair Services Container Maintenance Container Maintenance Corp. of Savannah is making great progress on preparing the containers! See photos below.

In addition, we now have postcards! And we are working on additional merchandise. We are asking that you keep one as a souvenir and return one with a note to Nate, or about fishing Whitewater Reef, or … whatever. If interested, go to the Connect with Us page and let us know how many postcards you want and your mailing address. No charge.

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!