If you’re headed toward warmer weather this winter, keep your eyes open…underwater. Along with the colorful fish and coral reefs, you might stumble across another kind of show.
In Cancun’s National Marine Park, an artist named Jason deCaires Taylor has created a monumental underwater art exhibition. More than 400 life-size sculptures sit on the sea floor, spread over 1,000 square feet of space around Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc.
The project isn’t just about self-expression. It’s meant to draw tourists away from the overstressed ocean reefs and into an artificial reef.
And in the US Virgin Islands, Trunk Bay on the island of St. John isn’t just another tropical beach. It also has something called a “snorkeling trail.”
Snorkel underwater and you’ll see 15 plaques identifying the tropical coral and fish species along a 675-foot long stretch. The waters are calm enough that even first-timers and children can explore the trail.
There’s a similar concept in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida. The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail is an artificial reef comprised of maritime objects like concrete cannons, and anchor, and a ballast pile.
For more information, visit our water sports archives.
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