AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE PATH OF A WATER WAVE WILL CHANGE THE PROFILE, ENERGY AND FORCES OF THE WAVE. IN SOME CASES IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL EXACTLY WHAT EFFECT A PARTICULAR GEOMETRY WILL HAVE. A MODEL WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR USE IN A WAVE TANK TO INVESTIGATE A SECTION OF THE FLOWER GARDENS FOR A POSSIBLE SITE OF AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. A SERIES OF WAVES VARYING IN HEIGHT AND PERIOD WERE USED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REEF INCREASED THE WAVE FORCES DUE TO INCREASED MASS TRANSPORT AND SHOALING. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT LOCATION.