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MUSA - Isla Mujeres

Updated: Aug 12




In 2005 Hurricane Wilma wreaked havoc upon Isla Mujeres and her reefs. Much of her coral was damaged, and talk was to shut down the reefs. Thanks to the forward-thinking of some great individuals, MUSA was born out of the need to create an artificial reef that would allow the natural reefs time to recover and alleviate the accumulated impact of divers and snorkelers. It has been an enormous success repeated in many other countries.





The history


After the damage from the 2005 Hurricane Wilma, Dr Jaime Gonzalez Cano proposed the idea of an artificial reef to the then-president of the Cancun Nautical Association, Roberto Diaz Abraham. The idea was to take divers and snorkelers away from Manchones Park to an alternate area of concrete reefs.

By 2008 Roberto Diaz had left the project, understanding that it would take too long to flourish and become an attraction. Fortunately, Dr Jaime persisted and presented the idea to the Nautical Tourism Subcommittee of using underwater statues as artificial reefs.

The idea was to draw people away from hurricane-damaged reefs and decrease the cumulative effect of so many visitors. The Cancun reefs are one of the most visited in the world, with more than 850,000 tourists each year, comparable to Australia's much larger Great Barrier Reef.

Where artificial reefs were usually the result of sunken ships and objects falling to the sea floor, the statues were a new idea and technique deliberately designed to grow and evolve within their surroundings.


Having researched experienced underwater sculptors, Dr Jaime came across Jason deCaire Taylor, who pioneered this art form in Grenada. DeCaire Taylor graduated from the London Institute of Art in 1998 with a BA with honours in sculpture. Also, being an active SCUBA instructor and underwater photographer, deCaire Taylor could view the art differently.


After presenting the idea to the Nautical Tourism Subcommittee, of which Roberto Diaz was a prominent member, being president of the Nautical Association, the concept of a series of artists to create an underwater museum was born. Jason deCaire Taylor was hired to do the initial four sculptures.


The Environmental Impact Assessment, produced by the National Park Staff, Dr Gonzalez Cano, and Roberto Diaz, provided the legal basis for, as of October 2009, constructing 1,412 artificial habitats in 10 sites over the next 50 years.


Jason deCaire Taylor finished the first four statues, and were placed underwater in November 2009. By the end of 2010, The Silent Evolution had been installed.

The museum officially opened on November 27, 2010.

Although there was permission for ten galleries, only three have been completed as of this date. The Manchones gallery (Salon Manchones) at 9 mt/ 30 ft deep and the Nitzuc gallery (Salon Nizuc) at 4 mt/ 13 ft deep, and Punta Sam at 3.5 mt/ 11 ft deep

By the end of 2013, 500 statues had been placed on the ocean floor. 477 are in the Manchones gallery, with the other 23 in the Nizuc gallery. Later Punta Sam was to have 2 sculptural sets laid.

More than 100,000 visitors visited this during that year (2013).





The construction


The statues use pH-neutral marine concrete free from other substances like metal that could harm aquatic life. Made with the help of marine park officials and the Cancun Nautical Association and using inert fibreglass rebar, this material has proven to be the most helpful in supporting reef growth. Rough textures are left on the statues of deCaire Taylor to help coral larvae gain a strong foothold.

The statues are made above ground and are cleaned of harmful chemicals that might damage the water, the animals, or the reef.

Some statues have broken shards of coral from the damaged reef planted in them.


The Silent Evolution is designed to grow with the environment in two stages.

  • Stage one is the building and placement of the statues.

  • Stage two is how nature transforms them. Coral attachment grows and transforms into a living reef.

deCaire states

"I would also like to point out that this installation is by no means over and the second phase is dependant on nature's artists of the sea, to nurture, evolve, and apply the patina of life"(1)

The work took Jason deCaire Taylor 18 months, and 120 hours were spent working underwater.

According to deCaire Taylor

"120 tons of concrete, sand, and gravel were used, 3,800 meters of fibreglass, 400 kg of silicone, 8000 miles of red tape, and $250,00" (1).

Special lift bags were used to help control the position as they were lowered to the ocean floor to place the statues in the ocean. Once in place, the statues were drilled into place using pilings and specialized hydraulic drills.

A special 40-ton crane was placed on the car ferry that travels between Isla and Punta Sam to help put into position The Silent Evolution, which comprised over 450 figures, (2)




Location and timing



Seascape and MUSA are North of the Manchones Reef (down current), where they are protected from tropical storms and can optimize coral spawning advantage -photo credit @jaspersblueworld.


The location of the statues is of paramount importance. The permanent resting place is given much consideration before submerging the statues. Where possible, they are placed downstream from a healthy reef to intercept the all-important flow of coral larvae. In the case of the Silent Evolution, it is also protected by the Manchones reef system in the case of a tropical storm.

The Silent Evolution is the shape of an eye that faces the pathways of hurricanes, reducing the energy they spend on the statues.

Timing is also crucial. Coral spawning occurs in sync with lunar cycles, and the pulses of larvae sent out are pretty predictable. Deploying statues to coincide with one of these events gives them much more chance to acquire a new generation of coral before other species, such as large algae, take hold.



In some statues, this process of coral growth has been aided by the implantation of storm-damaged nubbins and fragments raised in nurseries, such as The Man on Fire, Holy Man, and The Gardner.


The Man on Fire has fire coral implanted in the statue.


The artists and their statues


For more information on each statue found in the Manchones Gallery, click on the name of the statue below.



Founding artist

Jason deCaries Taylor (UK)


New Artists

Roberto Diaz Abraham (Mexico)

  • The Ocean Muse Nizuc Gallery 2011

Karen Salinas Martinez (Mexico)

Rodrigo Quiñones Reyes (Mexico)

Salvador Quiroz (Mexico)

  • Bacab Manchones Gallery 2011

Elier Amado Gil - Currently working on many new statues with Roberto Diaz


Second Expansion

Jason deCaire Taylor


Manchones Gallery - 9 mt/ 30 ft. Great for diving and snorkelling

Nizuc Gallery - 4 mt/ 13 ft. Snorkelling only

Punta Sam -3.5 mt/ 11 ft. Snorkelling only


The Space Invader


Perhaps lesser known about MUSA is the existence of three little tile aliens that look suspiciously like they have escaped from 70-80s video games (that the old ones amongst us will remember).


A well-known urban artist, known by the pseudonym"Space Invader" (his name was taken from the 1978 video game arcade game of the same name), has made it his mission to invade the world with his crude pixelations of those 8-bit video games. Much of his work is composed of square ceramic tiles, and if you know where to look, you can find these under the ocean at MUSA.

Two are found in the Manchones Gallery and one at the MUSA headquarters, which is well worth the visit.




As Space Invader states on his website

"In 2007, I was thinking of creating underwater sculptures. Five years later, after I was technically ready to undergo with this project, I discovered the work of Jason de Caires who had just joined one of the gallery that was representing me. I decided not to venture into his territory and wrote him an email about the coincidence. He replied me that he was currently working on a series of new underwater sculptures and that he would love to partner with me. This is how three space invaders ended up installed at the bottom of the Cancun Bay!"

His little invaders can be found worldwide, and you can track his progress here.



The natural grazers


Dr Jaime was contacted to clean the silent evolution because there were complaints about a large amount of algal growth on the new statues, and visitors were upset that the features of the statues were obscured.

The initial growth on the statues was a thick layer of algae. At this stage, there were only 400 statues. The rest were to come later. Following instructions from the national park, half the statues were entirely cleaned of algae, and half were not.


Three 3-weeks later, in the areas where algae had been removed, it grew worse than ever: in the areas left untouched, the algae disappeared.

This unintentional interference with the natural evolution of an artificial reef led to an exciting discovery. What was unknown then was that a massive colony of sea urchins was living underneath the statues. These sea urchins would leave their habitats at night and do a natural, more efficient cleaning of the artificial reef. When their statues had had all the algae removed, they moved onto better feeding grounds (the other, untouched half of the statues) and did what they do best; clean and control the new algal growths.


Colonies of sea urchins were living beneath the statues.

This surprised all involved and was a great insight into the natural process of an evolving artificial reef system showing the negative effect human interference can have on the natural process.


The benefits and Environmental tourism


One of the most significant benefits of MUSA is relieving the sheer number of visitors to the natural reefs. MUSA is so incredibly popular and successful that 50% of all entry-level and new divers dive first on MUSA.

Not only does this take half the traffic away from the reef, but it also provides a training ground for those who could damage a natural reef with clumsy buoyancy skills.

The snorkelling-focused Nizuc gallery, which is at 4mt/ 13ft, is located beside one of the world's busiest snorkelling sites. As with the Manchones Gallery, it encourages visitors to spend at least half their time away from a fragile natural reef.


A natural reef is extremely fragile, and one clumsy movement from a diver or snorkeler can break a coral. Not only do corals grow very slowly (the fastest growing at an inch a year), but this breakage, while not directly injuring them, may leave them more susceptible to disease and algal overgrowth.


The income generated by these artificial reefs can encourage local communities to look after their reefs. An incentive toward environmental tourism that focuses on the well-being of a reef in place of acquiring the reefs commodities and residents proves that more money can be made through visiting a reef than fishing a reef.

Another benefit comes from educating tourists about how their actions' impact on a natural reef.


These artificial reefs are built on featureless seabeds that would typically hold no appeal to underwater visitors. Where no marine life existed, an independent ecosystem is now thriving, and the artificial reef is smothered in life. Biological diversity has been boosted as a result.


From a scientific perspective, much has been learned about how an ecosystem works. Each species' interactions and role in the success of a natural, self-sustaining ecosystem become quickly evident, with each having its part in keeping the ecosystem in balance.


A small child in Silent Evolution shows the interaction of different species of coral: hard, coralline and branching, and how MUSA is evolving. Photo credit @jamie_justaddwater

From the hard corals and coralline algae that work together to create structure and habitat; to the sponges and branching corals that shield the reef from currents and offer shelter, to the grazers that control the algae and open substrate for new coral to attach, to the animals that live there. All have their role to play, and their success depends upon the success of the other—a delicate balance and one that Jason deCaire Taylor considers when he designs all his statues.


One statue, The Listener, has a recording device inside that records thirty seconds of sound every fifteen minutes. In a collaboration between Heather Spence and Jason deCaire Taylor and the melding of art and science, much is to be learned about marine bioacoustics. Listen to a sound sample here.




The snorkelling and diving tours



The conditions for diving and snorkelling are amazing. With Manchones Gallery at 9mt / 30ft, it is a fantastic place to train new divers before taking them to the natural reef. With excellent visibility, generally between 20-30 mt / 66-99 feet, the statues can be seen by diving and snorkelling, although the greatest interaction is with diving.

There is generally very little current, which aids significantly in training purposes for divers and the pleasure of snorkelers swimming above.

It is enjoyable for divers of all levels, and underwater photographers will love the many subjects available to practice their skills.


Snorkelling tours have very strict requirements.

  • Life jackets are to be worn at all times

  • no freediving

  • no non-biodegradable sunscreen (also scuba divers)

  • no more than 12 per guide

All guides must be legal with parque nacional certificaion. All visitors to the park must pay an admission fee in the form of a bracelet. This cost is generally included in the price of the tour.

Ensure you only go with legal companies with the correct permits. Do not encourage pirate companies that do not respect the rules, the reef, or the local economy.


Thanks to forward thinkers like Dr Jaime Gonzalez Cano and Roberto Diaz Abraham and artists like Jason DeCarie Taylor, our oceans are being given a much-needed helping hand, and a new way of experiencing diving and snorkelling is becoming more widespread. Hand in hand with showing that environmental tourism, especially where the ocean is concerned, is the way of the future


A very special thank you to Roberto Diaz for telling me so much about the start, the process, and where the underwater museum is heading today. If you are genuinely interested in knowing more about MUSA, take some time out of your day and visit the headquarters in Cancun. The history is impressive, and the new statues planned for future installations are incredible. I will post soon about my time there and the amazing stories Roberto Diaz shared.



Depth

9 meters / 30 feet

Experience Level

Snorkelers

Divers - Entry Level, Beginners, and all levels of certified divers

Average Visibility Underwater

20-30 mt / 66-99 feet

Average Water Temp

28 C°/ 82F°

Dive Time

45 min (Parque Nacional Regulations)


To view the fish surveyed here with reef.org, click HERE.



Craig Nadeau - Dive Master Mapping Project - MUSA




https://www.amavqroo.mx/musa

https://musaislamujeres.com/

https://www.gulfbase.org/people/dr-jaime-manuel-gonzalez-cano

https://rodamuseo.com.mx/biografia-roberto-diaz-abraham/

https://space-invaders.com/post/subinvasion/

  1. Artist completes artificial reef, "The Silent Evolution," installing 400 sculptures underwater. (2010, October 1). Kelly Burgess. https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/11/jason-decaires-taylor-artificial-reef-silent-evolution-underwater-sculptures.html

  2. Geiling, N. (2014, June 10). Can Underwater Art Save the Ocean's Coral Reefs? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/underwater-museum-180951559/

  • BBC News - Mexico's "giant underwater museum." (2009, October 19). BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8326593.stm

  • Garling, C. (2011, April 4). Underwater Sculptures Give Sea Creatures a Haunting New Habitat. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2011/04/underwater-sculpture/

  • M.U.S.A. Museo Subacuático de Arte. (2022, April 25). Underwater Sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor. https://www.underwatersculpture.com/projects/musa-mexico/

  • Vazquez, P. (2021, May 28). The Cancun Underwater Museum – Then and Now Part 1. Aquaworld. https://aquaworld.com.mx/en/blog/cancun-underwater-museum-then-now/

  • Wikipedia contributors. (2022, June 13). Cancún Underwater Museum. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canc%C3%BAn_Underwater_Museum

  • D. (2018, June 2). Space Invader under the sea, Cancun Bay, Mexico 2012 | GraffitiStreet.com/News. GraffitiStreet. https://www.graffitistreet.com/space-invader-under-the-sea-cancun-bay-mexico-2012/

  • Bhatt, C. (2021, February 18). Museum Spotlight: Cancun's Underwater Museum of Art. Arts Help. https://www.artshelp.net/museum-spotlight-cancuns-underwater-museum-of-art/

  • Taylor, J., McCormick, C., & Scales, H. (2014). The Underwater Museum: The Submerged Sculptures of Jason deCaires Taylor (Illustrated ed.). Chronicle Books.

  • MUSA, Museo Subacuático de Arte “El Arte de la Conservación.” (2016). Grupo Regio.





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