Canada lowered a retired Boeing 737 onto the seabed off Vancouver Island; now it serves as an artificial reef for marine life

A Boeing 737 aircraft that was originally the part of the Canadian Airlines fleet now lies nearly 90 feet underwater and serves the role of an artificial reef for marine life. The 100-foot jet was decommissioned by Air Canada due to age and structural problems, stripped of all usable components and the airframe was donated to the ARSBC. It was sunk by the ARSBC near Chemainus, BC on January 14, 2006.A jet to a reefXihuw, is the Hul'qumi'num word for the red sea urchins that used to live in abundance in these watersNow known as Xihuw, it was donated by Qwest Airparts of Memphis, Tennessee, through the efforts of Air Canada. Xihuw, is the Hul'qumi'num word for the red sea urchins that used to live in abundance in these waters but whose population has dwindled, sadly, due to pollution and over-fishing. The first step began with a phone call from Fraser MacLean of Air Canada in November 2002. The company had a Boeing 737 that was slated to be decommissioned. Fraser had seen the coverage of the HMCS Cape Breton’s sinking, and thought the ARSBC might be interested in acquiring the Boeing 737 for its second reef.The plane, which had been stripped down, weighs 15 tonnes and measures 30 met...