Underwater Museum Cancun Mexico

Address:Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Phone:+52 998 848 8327

One of the most original and innovative museums can be found in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, but in order to visit it will take more than just a ticket, you'll need a snorkel and be prepared to get wet. More than 500 life-size sculptures make up the Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA) which lies just off the east coast of Cancun between Punta Nizuc and Isla Mujeres in the alluring waters of the Caribbean Sea.

MUSA is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to conservation of the ocean. The Cancun Underwater Museum was conceived and executed by English artist and sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the director of the national marine park Jaime González Cano and the past president of the Nautical Association for Cancun and Isla Mujeres, Roberto Díaz Abraham, as a way to inform and educate visitors about the ecological and environmental importance of the ocean and reef system through artistic and creative endeavors. The permanent sculptures are beautiful and interesting as well as functional and contribute to the reef structure and growth of coral leading to a revitalized and long-term healthy environment for the fish and other marine life. With close to 800,000 people visiting the waters off the coasts of Cancun and Isla Mujeres each year, the museum helps alleviate the pressure on the environment and also helps contribute economically to the local market through tourism.

Designed to be one of the most ambitiously large underwater art attractions in the world, the Cancun Underwater Museum is an ongoing work in progress and continues to grow and be developed. The goal is to eventually host 12 distinct underwater galleries with more than 1,300 different sculptures. Since the first sculptures were first installed in 2009 and the museum was opened to the public in 2010, several additional artists have contributed their works to the museum. Because of its unique layout and current division into two distinct galleries, both snorkelers and scuba divers can access the museum. The first gallery, Salon Nizuc, is around four meters (13 feet) deep and is accessible only to snorkelers. Salon Manchones is eight meters (closer to 30 feet deep) and is available for exploration by both snorkelers and scuba divers. Immerse yourself in this surreal environment and you'll see single human-shaped sculptures as well as groups of figure huddled together. Additionally, there are sculptures of children, cars and houses and each one is a statement on humanity and the relationship between man, art and the environment.

According to the law of the Cancun - Isla Mujeres Marine Park, it is necessary to use a local guide when visiting the underwater museum. Snorkel and scuba diving guides are available from both Isla Mujeres and Cancun. For those who are looking to avoid getting wet, the Cancun Underwater Museum can also be viewed via a glass-bottom boat ride or there is now a MUSA Visitor's Center, located in the Cancun Hotel Zone, where guests can see some sculptures and view images and video of the underwater museum. Admission to the Visitor's Center is free, donations to MUSA are accepted.