This paper discusses the performance of a multi-method ensemble meta-heuristic for optimization in a problem of submerged arches design. Specifically, the Coral Reefs Optimization algorithm with Substrate Layers (CRO-SL) is proposed. It is a multi-method evolutionary ensemble which combines different searching structures in a single population. In this case, some novel searching strategies such as the Firefly algorithm and the Water Wave Optimization have been proposed to be included in the CRO-SL algorithm. In addition, some other traditional searching structures such as classical crossovers, Gaussian mutation operators, Harmony search and Differential Evolution search strategies have also been implemented in the algorithm. The proposed CRO-SL has been applied to the optimal design of submerged arches in deep waters, considering several design aspects such as the bending moment of the beam and the airspace of the arch. The evaluation of the submerged arches quality is obtained after the simulation of the arches by means of a finite elements computational software, which has been hybridized with the CRO-SL algorithm in the process of fitness calculation. It will be shown that the CRO-SL is able to obtain excellent solutions to submerged arches design problems. For this, the computational performance of each substrate (different searching strategies) in this optimization problem will be discussed and the results obtained will be compared with those in alternative works for similar experiments.