MUSA Underwater Museum of Art

MUSA Underwater Museum of Art

One of the great advantages of being a tourist is that you can dress like one, and focus on comfort rather than style. But that can pose a problem when you want to go to a museum. When you’re wearing shorts and flip-flops, it’s easy to feel out of place. And if it's crowded, you leave with a certain kind of tiredness in your legs from hours spent waiting in line to see some famous painting. In short, visiting museums while on vacation isn’t necessarily ideal! But the one we're going to talk about is totally different. You don’t have to dress up; a swimsuit, goggles, and a snorkel are all you need!

Englishman Jason deCaires Taylor is behind the creation of MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte), a strange and enchanting collection of underwater sculptures located near the coral reef off the coast of Cancun. He himself has donated several of his creations to the site’s 500-piece “catalog” (that’s just an expression, none of the pieces are for sale). His collection is called The Silent Evolution, and it shows the impact of human beings on their environment, both positive and negative. He drew his inspiration for these statues from the fishing community in which he lives and crafted every detail of the faces and clothing to be as faithful to reality as possible. It took 18 months to complete, using 120 tons of concrete, sand, and gravel.

MUSA is undoubtedly the most ambitious underwater attraction created by man. Located a short distance from the main reefs, the sculptures have become reefs in their own right over time. MUSA is not only an extraordinary aesthetic experience, but also a good way to protect the coral reef: by ensuring that the sculptures use materials that promote the development of coral life (hence the name The Silent Evolution), Jason deCaires Taylor has created an artificial paradise that attracts both sea creatures and tourists. Of course, visitors are thrilled to swim among the turtles and manatees, and the coral reef itself is protected from too much human contact.