One of the best places to visit if you’ve ever wanted to see an underwater museum is MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) in Cancun, Mexico.
There is a staggering variety of sculptures and art installations there that were created for scuba divers to appreciate. This blog post will examine the MUSA underwater museum in more detail and discuss what makes it unique.
The museum is intended to both provide divers with something intriguing and engaging to explore and to aid in the preservation of the coral reef. It has also quickly risen to the top of Cancun’s attractions.
MUSA History
One of the most visited tourist destinations in Mexico is the MUSA underwater museum in Cancun. Many thousands of visitors go to the museum each year to view the magnificent sculptures and take in the distinctive underwater setting.
The museum was established in 2010 by Mexican sculptures Karen Martinez Salinas, Roberto Diaz Abraham, Rodrigo Quiones Reyes, Salvador Quiroz Ennis, and Elier Amado Gil as well as British artist Jason de Caires Taylor.
The museum is situated in Marine Park, a protected area where numerous different fish and coral species can be found.
What is the Cancun Underwater Museum?
One of the world’s biggest underwater museums is the MUSA in Cancun. In order to build an artificial reef, more than 500 life-size sculptures were positioned on the seafloor near Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
The goal of the museum is to increase public awareness of the value of protecting coral reefs and the ocean. A group of Mexican and British artists came up with the sculptures, which are intended to give marine life a secure environment in which to flourish.
The sculptures are positioned at various depths throughout the museum and are composed of a particular form of concrete that promotes the growth of marine life.
For a closer look, visitors to the MUSA underwater museum can snorkel or scuba dive among the sculptures. In addition, a glass-bottom boat tour of the museum is an option. In a moment, we’ll go over the specifics of these tours.
Benefits of the Cancun Underwater Museum
In addition to being an interesting and lovely destination to visit, the Cancun Underwater Museum has several advantages for the environment. Fish and other marine creatures are attracted to this reef, supporting the local ecosystem.
For fish and other marine life, the sculptures at the MUSA underwater museum offer a haven of safety.
The sculptures’ creation of an artificial reef gives many different fish species a home, which helps the local fish population repopulate. The museum offers a secure environment for fish to reproduce and develop.
The Cancun Underwater Museum is assisting in the preservation of local marine life for future generations by building this artificial reef. The sculptures also aid in reducing the amount of algae growing in the vicinity.
What to see at the Cancun Underwater Museum
The museum has various galleries that are divided by various depths. The museum, which is situated in Cancun, Mexico, has a floor space of more than 12,000 square metres.
The Island Gallery at Punta Nizuc
This gallery contains 33 sculptures. Of the galleries, it has the shallowest depth. The gallery, where the pieces are displayed, is 2-4 metres below the water’s surface. This qualifies it for snorkelling.
Machones Gallery
The largest collection belongs to Machones Gallery, which comprises 473 sculptures. Many people prefer the collection of sculptures located 8–10 metres below the water’s surface.
How deep is Cancun’s underwater museum?
There are two exhibits in this gallery: Bankers, which features people in suits with their heads in the sand, and Quiet Evolution, which features 400 human figures by renowned artist Jason de Caires.
These sculptures feature a man riding a bicycle, a man typing at a computer, and numerous individuals lying down and standing; their clothing and facial expressions leave an impression worth witnessing. They are made of materials made to survive the severe conditions of the ocean.
How do I discover MUSA?
The waters off the Mexican resort city of Cancun are the home of the Cancun Underwater Museum. There are four possible tour options. diving, glass-bottom boat tours, the rainforest tour, and snorkelling
Visitors can get a close-up view of the amazing sculptures and marine creatures that reside at MUSA on these trips.
Diving tours
Diving trips are often offered as 5-hour tour programmes, though this might vary depending on the firm you purchase from. Options range from certified to uncertified. Depending on the gallery you choose to see and your preferred tour, prices range from $100 to $150.
Basic gear and instructor supervision are included in the diving excursion package. This tour is not open to children under the age of 12. These diving excursions are also open to those between the ages of 12 and 18, although they must be accompanied by an adult.
During your first dive with this tour, you’ll encounter artefacts including Anthropocene (A VW Beetle made to real scale), The Bankers, Bombs, Urban Reef, Bio Map, Bacab, and Seascapes.
The dive into the natural reef is your second dive, and here you can also see sea turtles. The Manchones Reef and its amazing coral formations, together with magnificent fish, will be visible to you.
Snorkelling tours
If scuba diving is not your thing, snorkelling is also an alternative option to see the underwater museum called Arrecife Mesoamerican. It is an ideal tour option for those who cannot dive and for families. Cancun’s underwater museum price for snorkelling tours is around 50–70 dollars.
On this tour, you will see 28 MUSA sculptures, including The Gardner of Hope, Time Bomb, The Last Supper, Understanding, Threshold, and No Name.
Glass Bottom Boat
With glass-bottom boats, you can see the marine life on Punta Nizuc Reef, one of the most significant reefs in the world, without getting wet. You can also sign up for trip packages that provide both boating and snorkelling opportunities. Tours cost between $50 and $70 and last for roughly three hours.
Jungle Tour
One of the most popular trips in Cancun is the jungle tour. With this tour, you may scuba dive in the second-largest coral reef in the world and explore the jungle in the lagoon channels nearby. A 3-hour Jungle Tour will run you about $70.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, the Marine Park entrance fee is not included in the tour prices. It is useful to take this into consideration when preparing your travel plan.
Important tips to consider before you visit MUSA
- Before planning a visit to the Cancun Museum of Underwater Art, it is important to read up on what is on offer and what is expected of your experience. Find out about the featured sculptures as well as other information such as how long you can stay in the museum and the age requirements for different activities. This will help you ensure you get the most out of your visit.
- Although the tours are active throughout the year, June and August are the most crowded months. The whale shark is another factor that makes these tours popular. You may even come across whale-shark tours.
- Check the weather conditions. The weather in Cancun can be unpredictable, so making sure there won’t be any storms or strong currents during your visit is crucial for a safe experience underwater.
- Come prepared with cash. While some places around Cancun accept credit cards, it is always a good practice to come equipped with money when visiting attractions like these. Fees may apply depending on the type of activity guests want to participate in (such as snorkelling tours), so having enough cash makes things easier when it comes time to pay.
- Avoid touching marine life and sculptures.
Is it worth seeing MUSA?
The sculpture garden in MUSA is really a sight to see. The beautiful coral reefs and turquoise waters are the perfect backdrop for stunning works of art. They can get up close and personal with the incredible sculptures.
How do I get to the Cancun Underwater Museum?
You can book any of these tours online at MUSA Mexico. There are other businesses, but if you are not sure which one to choose, you can check out MUSA Mexico. You can visit the MUSA Mexico website and purchase a tour from among the tour packages listed.
Conclusion
The MUSA underwater museum in Cancun is a fascinating and unique experience that no one should miss. From its extraordinary sculptures to the fantastic marine life around them, it offers something for everyone. If you are visiting Cancun, be sure to add this very different attraction to your itinerary.
