The Circle of Heroes is the nation’s first underwater memorial dedicated to honoring American veterans.

The local monument is the realized vision of Dr. Heyward Mathews, a marine biologist and oceanographer from Pinellas County with a deep history in artificial reefs and marine biology. Dr. Mathews was a professor at St. Petersburg College for nearly 50 years and was the founder of the Clearwater Marine Science Center on Island Estates in Clearwater – now known as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, famously featured in the movie A Dolphin Tale, the film about Winter and later Hope the dolphins.

With the support and help of Dr. Mathews’ nephew, Congressman David Jolly – who at the time represented Pinellas County and Florida’s 13th Congressional District – and family friend J.D. White, a grant was secured to bring the vision to life.

On August 5, 2019, the memorial was deployed 10 miles off the coast of Clearwater Beach, just 300 yards north of the already existing Veteran’s Reef in the Gulf of America.

Today, this one-of-a-kind memorial is visited daily by divers from all across the country. The Circle of Heroes is arranged in a 100-foot circle resting 40 feet beneath the surface and features 13 life-size statues representing members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Our goal is to expand the memorial to a total of 24 statues.

Over the years, local dive shops and divers have volunteered to assist with storm preparation and cleanup of the reef. As with any underwater artificial reef, it is vital that the marine life and coral that have grown on the statues and the plaques remain undisturbed. The very existence of the growth proves that the reef is healthy and vibrant.

Thank you to our local supporters who have helped spread the word about this local monument, its purpose, its significance and its care.