On the seabed off Cancún, hundreds of statues are slowly turning into a reef. The Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA), created in the Cancún National Marine Park around 2009–2010, has some 500 sculptures, most of them by the British artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Made of marine-friendly cement, they give corals and fish a new home and take divers and snorkellers away from the fragile natural reefs.
The galleries
- Manchones, the largest gallery, lies around 8 metres deep, so it is best seen by diving; its best-known work is *The Silent Evolution*, a crowd of hundreds of life-size figures.
- Punta Nizuc is shallower, with sculptures at a few metres’ depth – ideal for snorkelling.
- A glass-bottom boat lets non-swimmers see the sculptures too.
Tips
- Book with an authorised operator: visits run by boat, and the marine park charges an access fee.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen – or better, a rash guard – to protect the corals.
- Go on a calm morning for the clearest water; tours may be cancelled in strong wind.
