One of the world’s most peculiar museums lies hidden under the calm, turquoise waters of Isla Mujeres and Cancún. We are talking about the Underwater Museum of Art MUSA, founded in 2009 by Dr. Jaime González Cano, Roberto Díaz Abraham and the renowned British artist Jason deCaires Taylor.

One of the world’s most ambitious underwater attractions, the museum started in the Isla Mujeres’ Eastern Shore National Marine Park with the Manchones exhibit. This is where the first sculptures were installed and is the biggest of the exhibits, it is also where the museum’s main installation The Silent Evolution is located.  In the following years, the museum’s success saw it grow and expand into Cancún, where the Nizuc, and Punta Sam exhibits were opened featuring the work of famous Mexican artists like Karen Salinas, Rodrigo Quiñones, Roberto Díaz, and Salvador Quiroz, as well as the Cuban artist Elier Amado Gil.

The museum was created with several objectives in mind: as a tourist attraction with little ecological impact, and as a living and evolving work of art. The sculptures are made of a special type of neutral Ph concrete that serves as a foundation for corals to grow on. Nowadays Jason deCaires Taylor is no longer involved with the museum but his work keeps growing, literally, as corals and other sea life continues to grow on it.
 

Snorkel or SCUBA
The Manchones exhibit is the largest of the exhibits and the first one you should visit. Without a doubt one of the area’s most popular dive sites, this part of the museum lies at an accesible depth of 9 meters, making it ideal for beginner divers as well as experienced ones. No need to worry if you haven’t learned how to dive yet, given its shallow depths, the exhibit is also perfect for snorkeling. You will see that it is easy to find tours to MUSA while in Cancún and Isla Mujeres, with some tours even combining MUSA with other attractions. The Nizuc and Punta Sam exhibits are only accessible to snorkelers.

The best way to visit the latter exhibits is as part of the jungle tour. One of Cancún’s most popular tours where you will take control of a swift boat and navigate the beautiful Nichupté lagoon and its mangrove forests, making your way to Nizuc to snorkel at the museum.

But I Don’t Want to Get Wet

There is one last option for those who wish to remain dry but still want to experience the thriving sea life and beauty of MUSA. And this option comes in the form of a glass-bottom boat where you will be able to sit below deck looking through the glass at the world outside. Think about it as visiting a big aquarium but you are in the fish tank and it travels through the water.

Don’t wait any longer and book your visit to MUSA today choosing whatever option is best for you, you won’t regret it!

Visit Scuba Diving in MUSA for certified divers.