Surfers Paradise is a booming town on Australia’s Gold Coast, far removed today from what it was in the 1950’s - a little village with just one hotel. And Surfers Paradise is the construction site of the first artificial ‘perfect wave’ in the world. Engineer Angus Jackson is about to complete the construction of an underwater reef made of giant sandbags, over an area of 9 hectars. It is to create a permanent surf and to protect the coast that suffers from erosion.

The reef protects the sandy beach and the technique seems to be efficient and protective of the environment. Millions of tourist come every year to the Gold Coast – losing their beach would spell economic disaster. The mayor reckons that each dollar invested in the project will bring 70 times as much for the town. Soon, these artificial reefs will appear on other continents.