ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Students from the Central Christian School visited the Reef Maker business in Orange Beach on Friday and made a portion of a reef that will be placed under a resident’s dock.

After the reef is in place those students and others from Ocean Camp in Gulf Shores will study how the reef changes and what it attracts.

Also, the students learned about the extensive reef program from Walter Marine owner David Walter. His business will be featured in a show on the Weather Channel beginning Feb. 12 called Reef Wranglers.

Walter gave the students and teacher Salena Blanton a tour of his business and a brief background on who he got started in the business.

Since 1986, Walter Marine has deployed more than 35,000 custom marine habitats for recreational, sustainable and eco-friendly use.

With the help of Walter Marine, Coastal Alabama is one step closer to becoming a diving destination.

In June 2012, David brought coastal freighter M.V. Yokamu to Alabama’s coast and deemed that it would cost $500,000 to sink the ship for recreational diving purposes.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Reef and Restoration Foundation raised the money with the help of a sponsoring donation of $250,000 from Mac McAleer of LuLu’s restaurant. The reef will be called the LuLu.

The students were allowed to climb all over the 271-foot former freighter during their visit.

To see a gallery of pictures from their day, visit http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/collection_ecadb4d6-6cbb-11e2-9b0f-0019bb2963f4.html