Underwater Art: Beauty with a Mission

The Silent Evolution is anything but random.

I felt only “eh” about going to “Museo Subacuático de Arte” (MUSA for short), which translates to Underwater Museum of Art, initially.

I did love that MUSA was created to address the impact of tourism on coral reefs and promote marine conservation. It serves as an artificial reef, diverting over 850,000 divers and snorkelers each year from fragile natural areas while providing new habitats for marine life. That alone is impressive.

I just thought it would be a bit “too touristy”.

Wow was I wrong.

After Hurricane Wilma devastated the reefs around Isla Mujeres in 2005, their future looked bleak. In response, Dr. Jaime González Cano of CONANP (Mexico’s National Parks authority) proposed an artificial reef system to protect the vulnerable reefs of Manchones National Park and redirect tourist activity.

That idea evolved into something revolutionary: an underwater art installation designed to grow into a living reef — a collaboration between marine biologists, conservationists, and artists.

Enter Jason deCaires Taylor, a British sculptor known for his groundbreaking underwater work in Grenada. He completed the first four statues, which were submerged in November 2009. By the end of 2010, The Silent Evolution — one of MUSA’s most iconic works, featuring more than 450 life-sized figures — had been installed. The museum officially opened on November 27, 2010.

Ultimately, the plan calls for 1,412 artificial habitats across 10 sites over the next 50 years. The sculptures are made from pH-neutral, marine-grade cement — free of metals or additives that could harm aquatic life — and specifically formulated to encourage coral settlement and growth.

To quote deCaires himself,

“I would like to point out that this installation is by no means over and the second phase is dependent on nature's artists of the sea, to nurture, evolve, and apply the patina of life. The idea isn’t to preserve the original form, but to let the reef take ownership.”

THAT, my friends is the most amazing part to me.

Each structure is unique. Many were cast from local fishermen and residents, embedding community identity into the work. I could have spent hours studying each figure — the nuances, the details.

Seeing the faces - feeling the humanity - and truly in awe of how the ocean is making this piece of art, her very own.

FACTS ABOUT MUSA:

The Silent Evolution is anything but random. The sculptures are arranged in the shape of an eye, facing the traditional pathway of hurricanes. This orientation helps reduce the energy of passing storms. It is just downstream from the Manchones' natural reef, allowing it to intercept coral larvae during seasonal spawning. The timing of the placement was carefully planned too: to coincide with coral spawning, maximizing the chances of colonization.

Marine life began arriving almost immediately. Today, more than 2,000 juvenile corals are thriving here.