Cancun has new Underwater Museum
Mexico (Global Adventures): A new underwater museum opened in November off the coast of Cancun. Mexico calls the new attraction for recreational divers, snorkelers and water sports enthusiasts "the world's largest underwater museum."
The National Park on the West Coast of Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc will feature more than 400 concrete sculpture figurines when finished in 2011. The area attracts approximately 750,000 tourists annually. The Park tries to divert tourists from natural habitats along the natural coral reef units without losing visitors and the US $36 million they bring directly into the area each year.
Roberto Diaz, president of the Cancun Nautical Association, said that about a third of the $350,000 needed for the project had already been raised; adding that he expects the remaining funds will be raised within the next 18 months.
The sculptures will be created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor and positioned at various depths. Some of the installations will be theme-based and include an army of indigenous Mayan people called “The Silent Evolution.” Another sculpture called “The Dream Collector” will catalogue messages in bottles set adrift from all corners of the world. One of the first messages attached to the object comes from Roberto Diaz, President of the Cancun Underwater Museum, and reads: “May our hearts never become as hard as our heads.”
“This is a unique opportunity to explore the boundaries of art and combine it with reef conservation” said Taylor, a British artist. The main exhibition will encompass up to 400 lifelike figures based on actual living people. Once the main first phase of the project is completed, other artists will be encouraged to submit their own sculptures and contribute to the unique museum.
The National Park’s director, Jaime Gonzalez Cano, calculates that by April 2010 approximately 250 sculptures will be in place. "The underwater museum will draw many visitors, allowing us to give a rest to the natural reefs. It's like a restoration process", so Cano.
Mexico (Global Adventures): A new underwater museum opened in November off the coast of Cancun. Mexico calls the new attraction for recreational SCUBA divers, snorkelers and water sports enthusiasts "the world's largest underwater museum."
The National Park on the West Coast of Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc will feature more than 400 concrete sculpture figurines when finished 2011. The area attracts approximately 750,000 tourists annually. The Park tries to divert tourists from natural habitats along the natural coral reef units without losing visitors and the US $36 million they bring directly into the area each year.
Roberto Diaz, president of the Cancun Nautical Association, said that about a third of the $350,000 needed for the project had already been raised; adding that he expects the remaining funds will be raised within the next 18 months.
The sculptures will be created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor and positioned at various depths. Some of the installations will be theme-based and include an army of indigenous Mayan people called “The Silent Evolution.” Another sculpture called “The Dream Collector” will catalogue messages in bottles set adrift from all corners of the world. One of the first messages attached to the object comes from Roberto Diaz, President of the Cancun Underwater Museum, and reads: “May our hearts never become as hard as our heads.”
“This is a unique opportunity to explore the boundaries of art and combine it with reef conservation” said Taylor, a British artist. The main exhibition will encompass up to 400 lifelike figures based on actual living people. Once the main first phase of the project is completed, other artists will be encouraged to submit their own sculptures and contribute to the unique museum.
The National Park’s director, Jaime Gonzalez Cano, calculates that by April 2010 approximately 250 sculptures will be in place. "The underwater museum will draw many visitors, allowing us to give a rest to the natural reefs. It's like a restoration process", so Cano.
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