Late last year, scientists in Germany published some remarkable findings on a second world war munitions dump in the Baltic Sea. Some may dismiss the dump as hazardous waste, but to marine biologists it was something far more exciting: a thriving ecosystem.

Over the decades, the dump has become home to mussels, crustaceans, fish and marine plant life, creating a full community under the sea. It’s a perfect example of an accidental reef, highlighting nature’s ability to reclaim even dangerous human detritus.

Around the UK coast, there are thousands of famous wrecks. I have had the pleasure of diving on many of them, witnessing first hand how sea creatures turn rusting hulls into habitat. Further afield, deliberate artificial reef projects, from Australia to the Caribbean, are evidence that where structures sink, life follows.

But let’s not romanticise our wrecks. While these structures offer a foothold for life, they can also leak toxic compounds into the oceans.

Not all reefs are born from disaster. Around the world, governments, scientists and conservation groups have deliberately sunk ships, concrete structures and even old underground train carriages to create new marine habitats. These artificial reefs are designed to mimic the ecological functions of natural reefs, boosting biodiversity and providing refuges for overfished species. They also draw scuba divers and recreational fishers, providing economic incentives for people who live nearby.

In the US, the decommissioned aircraft carrier the USS Oriskany was famously sunk to create a tourist attraction off the Florida coast: the “Great Carrier........

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