Cancun Underwater Museum, Underwater art museum in the Caribbean Sea, Mexico

The Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA) holds about 500 life-sized human figures cast in pH-neutral marine concrete, arranged in rows on the seabed. The sculptures stand upright, some with arms raised or bent, their pale grey-green surfaces patched with marine growth. They are grouped in galleries between Isla Mujeres and Cancun, including Manchones at eight metres and Punta Nizuc at four metres.

The museum opened in 2010 during the global climate summit held in Cancún as a way to protect natural coral reefs from heavy tourist pressure. The installation was conceived in response to the impact of tourism on existing marine ecosystems.

The sculptures underwater come from international and Mexican artists who intentionally used marine-friendly concrete that attracts sea life. The figures show human forms and address environmental themes that you encounter directly while diving or snorkeling.

You can explore the works underwater through glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling trips, or diving sessions with certified instructors. The best time to visit is during dry months with calm sea conditions, when underwater visibility is clearer.

The figures of The Silent Evolution were modelled on members of a local fishing community where Jason deCaires Taylor lived, so each face and posture is individual. The sculptures were cast above ground, cleaned of any chemicals, then lowered by crane from a ferry; some were so heavy that lift bags were needed.