Set 25 feet below the surface in the tropical waters off the coast of Cancun, the Museum of Underwater Modern Art combines the two loves of artist Jason deCaires Taylor, sculpture and scuba diving.
One of the largest artificial reef attractions in the world, the museum boasts 403 life-sized sculptures that live permanently on the sea-bed.
Part of the National Marine Park of Isla Mujeres, divers wishing to explore the underwater world can easily access the site on a holiday in Cancun, and swim amongst the sculptures and underwater wildlife that also call the site home.
The site is intended to redirect divers away from the precious natural reefs to allow them to regenerate, while also providing a new habitat for marine life.
Jason deCaires Taylor, who created the reef, said of the project: “It’s incredibly interesting working underwater. The colours are different, the light patterns are very different, the atmosphere and mood is otherworldly.”
“The piece takes on a very different tone underwater – it has a lost feel to it and brings up all these questions that you wouldn’t have on land.”
As inspiration, he asked people from around Mexicoto pose for the exhibition. Each sculpture is individually cast, making every piece in the underwater museum unique.
To create the sculptures, de Caires Taylor used a special cement mixture intended to encourage the growth of coral and blend well with existing sea life over time. Once the sculptures have been completed on land, they are protected then carefully lowered to the seabed and positioned around the seabed.
He said: “It all happens rather quickly – within two weeks, we will see green algae, then within a few months, juvenile algae will appear.”
