Talk about meeting housing needs: An artificial reef created in the Dominican Republic by MTSU concrete industry management students this summer is already generating some underwater real-estate traffic.

In this video screen grab, an octopus swims with a fish toward the cube-shaped concrete prisms of an artificial reef created and installed by MTSU concrete industry management students this summer in the waters off the northern coast of Dominican Republic. Each prism is about 3 feet wide by 3 feet high. (Video by Eric Hertsens of Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

The Concrete Industry Management Program shared a new video by Belgian native Eric Hertsens, now a Miami/Fort Lauderdale-based businessman and water sportsman who films his dives in the waters off Cabarete, located in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic.

In the July 16 video, an octopus makes his way around the cube-shaped concrete prisms created and installed in the waters off the northern coastal town of Sosúa by MTSU CIM students in May and June. Each prism is about 3 feet wide by 3 feet high.

The octopus investigates the reef’s sides and corners with the help — or possibly hindrance — of some curious fish.

It then meets with a diver, whose attempts at some friendly tickles finally cause an amazing change.

You can find the full story here about the CIM students’ study-abroad adventures in the Dominican Republic.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)