Townsville, AUSTRALIA—With the onset of climate change, the Great Barrier Reef has sustained heavy degradation over the last decade. With bleaching events intensifying year to year, many in the Australian dive industry are worried that their most precious resource will continue to suffer damage in perpetuity and cut off a source of much-needed tourism revenue.
However, in early August, a major new tourist draw opened that aims to revitalize communities adjoining the Great Barrier Reef and act as a tourism draw for years to come. The Museum of Underwater Art (MoUA) a multi-site underwater art museum with an eye toward conservation officially opened for exploration on August 2.
Who Designed the MoUA?
The first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, MoUA’s sculpture gardens were designed and crafted by renowned British marine sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. A conservationist at heart, Taylor is perhaps the most renowned underwater sculptor in the world and has built underwater exhibitions in Spain, the Maldives, Mexico, and now—Australia.
According to MoUA’s artist page, “Jason’s projects aim to open debate about our relationship to our seas and highlight the importance of conserving them. He believes being underwater is a deeply personal, liberating and otherworldly experience. Through his work, Jason hopes to usher in a new era of culturally and environmentally aware tourism with the goal that more tourists will see our natural wonders as breathing ecosystems. Jason says once his works are submerged they no longer belong to him – they belong to the ocean and all the creatures that live there.”
Where is the MoUA?
The Museum is spread across four separate sites, each with its own respective artwork and layout. According to Conde Nast Traveler, the Coral Greenhouse sits in close proximity to John Brewer Reef; the Ocean Siren sits near Townsville and two additional sculptures are still under construction near Palm Island and Magnetic Island.
“We’ve officially cut the ribbon and launched the Museum of Underwater Art,” said Dr. Adam Smith, Deputy Chairman of the museum’s board of directors. “It’s open. It’s open to tourists from all over Australia to dive this magnificent artwork and to think about the part that we all have to play in caring for our magnificent planet.”
“We think this attraction will be of global significance and there’s many people that have been involved in it,” Smith continues. “They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it’s taken a city to get this underwater artwork installed off Townsville.”
How to Dive the MoUA?
At this time, in order to dive the MoUA’s Coral Greenhouse, you must be accompanied by a certified dive outfitter. Permitted dive centers include Adrenalin Dive, Yongala Dive, Sealink Queensland, Pro Dive Magnetic Island and Orpheus Island Lodge. For a full breakdown of services and for more information, click here.
“With five commercial tourism operators authorised to visit this unique dive and snorkel site on the Great Barrier Reef,” reads MoUA’s Facebook page, “visitors and locals alike can experience the stories of the reef, and be inspired to learn, to care, to nurture and to hope.”