Just south of Manchones Reef stands a cross that protects the local fishermen. Initiated by Ramón Bravo, this monument was designed to ease visitor stress long before MUSA was conceived. 

Ramón Bravo (1925-1998) was a renowned Mexican diver and Olympic swimmer who was deeply concerned about the decline of coral reefs and the scarcity of fish due to tourist activities. In 1993, Bravo conceived the idea to submerge a religious symbol near Manchones Reef in order to divert visitors and reduce disturbances to marine life. He said, "Since it is normal to dive for no more than an hour per day, the tourists will have less time to bother the life of the reef while visiting the cross."

He believed that "people have more respect for a symbol of this nature than for the authorities.".

Collaborating with local officials, he secured funding and commissioned Enrique Miranda to create the statue. On August 17, 1994, the bronze cross, weighing nearly a ton and standing 3 meters (10 feet) tall at a depth of 12 meters (40 feet), was blessed and submerged off Isla Mujeres. Inside the cross is a figure with its head bowed, now surrounded by fire coral and adorned with retracting Christmas tree worms.