The trial of what is touted as the world's first inflatable surf reef has been put on hold after it ripped during installation at a West Australian beach.

Key points: The Airwave is a large bladder that anchors to the ocean floor with the aim of generating a surfable wave

The Airwave is a large bladder that anchors to the ocean floor with the aim of generating a surfable wave The City of Bunbury has invested $75,000 in the prototype, but the project hit a snag when it ripped during installation

The City of Bunbury has invested $75,000 in the prototype, but the project hit a snag when it ripped during installation The project is expected to be delayed for at least a month, and the device's inventor is confident it will work despite the setback

The Airwave device is a two-metre-high, 12-metre-wide, dome-like bladder filled with air that is designed to create bigger, surfable waves off Bunbury's Back Beach, in the state's South West region.

The City of Bunbury contributed $75,000 towards the prototype, in a bid to lure tourists away from more traditional surfing spots of Margaret River.

Installation started last week, but reports and images emerged on Monday of a large tear, which inventor Troy Bottegal said was spotted by a diver on Friday afternoon.

"We had a lot of undertow — a new swell came through that was a very deep swell that we weren't planning on, and it was pushing the undertow through the line-up," Mr Bottegal said.

"It's torn along the seam — it hasn't torn the actual rubber, which is very strong.

"The pressure from the airbag going back and forward with the undertow and incoming swell has put some pressure on that particular seam."

Mr Bottegal said the installation was 90 per cent complete, but the Airwave was not completely anchored to the ocean floor.

Airwave designer Troy Bottegal says he remains "confident of a positive outcome". ( ABC South West WA: Anthony Pancia )

All part of the learning process

Mr Bottegal said he will meet with financial backers tomorrow, following a further investigation to see if the rip can be repaired.

If the bladder cannot be fixed, another Airwave will need to fabricated overseas, which will delay the trial by at least a month.

Despite the setback, Mr Bottegal said he is "100 per cent" confident the project will work.

"You only find these things out when you're installing them for the first time, and you learn so much about how you want to install them in future, when we start to put these things over the world," he said.

"As horrid as it sounds, when you're committed to putting something in and installing it, you have to deal with these things.

"When you're committed to something you have to see it through to the end."

The installation of the inflatable reef was keenly anticipated by local surfers. ( ABC South West WA: Anthony Pancia )

Trial 'on hold'

The City of Bunbury said the repair or replacement would come at no cost to ratepayers.

Chief executive Mal Osborne said the city was confident in the future of the Airwave.

"Troy Bottegal and his team have been working extremely hard over the last few days to put an inflatable bladder into the ocean, which is no mean feat," Mr Osborne said.

Beach-goers are urged to avoid the area while the Airwave remains in place.

The Airwave device builds on the natural swell of the ocean and uses air to create bigger waves. ( Instagram: airwavesurfreef )

Surfers deflated

Tourist Camille-Audrey Perron, from Canada, said she was looking forward to riding whatever wave the Airwave produced, and said it would have been good for the town of Bunbury.

Ms Perron says while no surfers were expecting waves of the quality of Hawaii's Banzai Pipeline, most would have been happy with a "something fun".

"It would have been good for the city itself because there are a lot of surfers here," Ms Perron said.

"Even just a little wave for beginners would have been great.