MUSA in Cancun: the underwater museum for diving and snorkeling

If you think Cancun is only beaches, hotels, and lively parties, you’re in for a surprise. Just off the shore, on the Caribbean seabed, there’s a museum. Not a typical one with halls and paintings, but an underwater space where the sea acts as the walls and coral-covered sculptures stand in for canvases. This is MUSA — the Museum of Underwater Art.

Why build a museum on the seafloor?

The idea didn’t appear just for the sake of beauty. In the late 2000s, local scientists noticed that the coral reefs around Cancun were suffering from heavy tourist traffic. The director of the marine park, Jaime González Cano, and entrepreneur Roberto Díaz Abraham decided they needed to steer visitors away from live reefs. The plan was simple and persuasive: place a museum right in the ocean so people would admire sculptures instead of damaging nature.

British artist Jason deCaires Taylor joined the effort along with several Mexican creators. In 2009–2010, the first nearly 500 sculptures were installed on the seabed, marking the start of MUSA’s story.

Where is it all located?

The sculptures are spread across two sites.

The first is Manchones Reef, near Isla Mujeres. At about 6 meters deep, it holds almost all the sculptures. You need scuba gear to visit, which makes it especially appealing for those who enjoy diving.

The second is the Punta Nizuc area, closer to Cancun. There are fewer pieces here, but they sit shallow — just 3–6 meters. You can come by glass-bottom boat or simply snorkel.

Sculptures that become part of nature

All the figures are made from special concrete that doesn’t harm the sea. More than that, corals begin to grow on them, and fish move in. Over time, these statues become homes for marine life — the line between artwork and habitat quietly blurs.

One of the most recognized works, The Silent Evolution, brings together around 400 human figures standing underwater as if waiting. There are other striking pieces too: a concrete car, a man at an office desk, a seated fisherman. Many of them hint at everyday themes and symbolic meanings.

The museum keeps growing

Today the museum includes more than 500 sculptures, and the organizers don’t plan to stop. Another 21 pieces are slated to be added near the ancient settlement of El Meco. The new works will connect with Maya culture and local legends.

Officially, the museum welcomes about 300,000 visitors a year. And while you can’t just stroll in from the street like at a regular gallery, interest keeps building.