Scuba Diving the Underwater Museum in Mexico

It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to check out an underwater museum, so if you ever happen to find yourself near Cancun, Mexico, we highly recommend that you take a day to dive at the Underwater Museum of Art. Created in 2009, this museum features over 500 statues scattered across the ocean floor on the outskirts of Cancun. The museum, which is really an eco-project, was developed to conserve and support the underwater ecosystem through the creation of an artificial reef. Today, many of the statues have become just that – miniature reefs and havens for fish and marine life, caked in algae and coral. If you’re interested in checking out this one-of-a-kind dive site for yourself, then read on to learn all there is to know about diving at the Underwater Museum of Art in Mexico!

 

When To Go 

 

While diving in Cancun is possible year-round, the best time to go is between November and April, otherwise known as the dry season. During this time, there will be less rainfall and more comfortable temperatures, both above land and below the surface. That being said, you’re also likely to find crowded dive sites during this time because most tourists do travel to Mexico in the winter months. If you prefer to avoid these crowds, you can plan your travel for the summer between the months of May and October, just be aware that hurricane season begins in June and lasts until October – so there’s always a chance that your travel plans could be disrupted by the weather.

 

What To Expect

 

The Underwater Museum of Art is located within the Cancun National Marine Park, which lies near the Hotel Zone between the neighborhoods of La Isla and El Rey. Depending upon where you stay, you should be able to book a tour to the museum through your hotel or resort, which will most likely include transportation to the waterfront and back. If this isn’t an option for you, you can always rent a car and directly connect with a local dive operator to plan your trip. 

 

The dive around the museum is relatively easy and shallow, with the deepest statues located only 10 meters below the surface. This means that it’s accessible to all, even new and beginner divers. Furthermore, there is little to no current at the dive site, so you’ll be able to dive at your own pace and observe or linger as long as you like at each statue.

 

What You’ll See

 

In total, the Underwater Museum of Art consists of over 500 sculptures, each of which have been deliberately placed on the ocean floor in such a way that it almost seems to mimic an art installation. The statues are even divided into three separate “galleries” – Manchones, Punta Sam, and Punta Nizuc – with each gallery located along a different section of the ocean floor. The sculptures themselves are made out of pH-neutral marine concrete that has been anchored to the seabed. This helps to ensure that the statues do not disrupt the underwater ecosystem and goes so far as to even attract marine life and algae. Over time, the sculptures have begun to integrate into the environment, becoming hosts for an array of marine life, including coral, small fish, and other aquatic microorganisms.

 

Manchones 

 

Consisting of over 450 sculptures, Manchones is the largest gallery at the Underwater Museum of Art. Located at a depth between eight and ten meters, it is also the prominent diving spot for the museum. Many of the sculptures found here were created by the museum’s founder Jason deCaires Taylor. One of his most famous installations at this gallery is “The Silent Evolution,” which is a collection of over 400 life-sized human sculptures grouped together in a way that is meant to represent harmonious coexistence. In addition to this, you can find another fan favorite of his, the “Anthropocene” – a submerged Volkswagen Beetle car that is located not too far from the Manchones Reef. The vehicle has actually been taken over by coral and algae and is now home to several small aquatic creatures.

 

Punta Sam

 

Located only three and a half meters below the surface, Punta Sam is better suited for snorkeling than scuba diving. The gallery featured here consists of nine sculptures that were created by Cuban artist Elier Amado Gil. One of his most popular installations here is titled “Blessings” and features six hands placed in a circle, each making a gesture that is meant to represent a blessing. The gallery also happens to be surrounded by seagrass and is frequently visited by sea turtles.  

 

Punta Nizuc 

 

Punta Nizuc is another gallery that is recommended for snorkelers only, giving its short depth of just two to four meters. Here you can find a total of 33 sculptures created by several different local artists, including Elier Amando Gil, Jason deCaires Taylor, and Robero Diaz Abaham. 

Some of the most popular installations here include “Inertia” – which features a man sitting on a couch in front of a tv, “The Last Supper” – which features a table with food laid out, and “Understanding” – which features six men sitting in a circle around a round table. Many of these sculptures, which are surrounded by seagrass and are covered in algae, are frequently visited by small fish and crustaceans.

 

Other Ways to See the Museum 

 

If you’d like to explore the museum without your diving gear, snorkeling is another option for you to consider. In fact, two of the galleries, Punta Sam and Punta Nizuc, are only accessible to those who are snorkeling or swimming. There are several snorkeling operators that you can connect with if you’d prefer to go this route. Many of them will also provide same-day training if you or those you are with would like to participate in a quick tutorial. Even with this training, you will obviously not be able to get up close and personal with the statues like you would if you were diving; nonetheless, you should still be able to view them from afar, as the waters surrounding the museum tend to be crystal clear.

 

If you’d rather not jump in the ocean at all, another option that you can consider is a glass-bottom boat tour. Again, you can book this excursion through a local operator or through your hotel or resort. These trips typically include a bilingual guide, who will bring you to all three galleries and will explain in detail the statues that you see below you through the bottom of the boat. This is a great option if you are looking for a nice, easy break from diving or are traveling with someone who prefers to stay dry.



References:

 

Scuba Diver Life: https://scubadiverlife.com/dive-cancun-underwater-museum/

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