Volunteer divers from the Key West diving community performed exhaustive underwater surveys of the proposed artificial reef site. Participating divers included representatives from the recreational dive industry, the Florida Keys Community College, and the military. Surveys narrowed the area to a specific site, and confirmed that no sensitive ecology nor submerged cultural artifact was  present. NOAA representative, Mr. John Halas, Resource Manager for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary then conducted dives, and reviewed the survey material collected. Mr. Halas gave his approval to the selected site, allowing ARK to begin the permitting process.