The best underwater museums for diving
11/23/2022 | Written by Nikos Kaskaras in Travel
It’s been refreshing news: the recent underwater excursion of a group of divers in the majestic Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) near the Great Barrier Reef was rejuvenating. Not only for the divers themselves but also for all of the swimmers who were reminded of the wonderful underwater experience.
The Australian Museum of Underwater Art
The Museum of Underwater Art highlights the privileged landscape of the country. Located in Townsville North Queensland in the wider area of the Great Barrier Reef, it is Australia’s only underwater museum. Its purpose is clear: “MOUA has been created to inspire and educate the globe about reef conservation”. Art has been the main force behind the objective. There are twenty sculptures made of the reef at a depth of almost sixty feet. It is by no doubt a spectacular view. Jason deCaires Taylor is the artist behind the project. He is not just an award-winning sculptor but also an environmentalist. The environmental aspect of the MOUA is certainly the most significant. In the current climate crisis, growing a sensitive approach on the subject is of great importance. This blog has already referred to the dangers concerning the Great Barrier Reef.
The 10 best underwater museums in the world
By all means, underwater museums are unique sights. For all snorkel lovers apart from the MOUA, there are several underwater museums around the globe, where they can dive. Let’s take a look at the ten best underwater museums in the world:
- The Underwater Museum Of Cannes, France
- Museo Atlántico Lanzarote, Spain
- Alonissos Underwater Museum, Greece
- Museo Subacuático De Arte (MUSA), México
- Underwater Archeological Park of Baia, Italy
- The Baiheliang Underwater Museum, China
- Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada
- Caesarea Underwater Archeological Park, Israel
- Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, USA
- Monterroso Underwater Museum, Honduras
Each of the above underwater museums has its own distinct identity. The one in Mexico is the largest underwater museum in the world containing over 500 sculptures varying from people who put their heads on the sand to cars. The underwater museum of Spain has more than 300 sculptures and its themes are environmentally sensitive while the Greek one contains thousands of amphorae (classical Greek Jar) from the wreckage that took place in ancient Greece.
The art of underwater drawing
Returning to our starting point, the visit of many divers to the MOUA, it is worth noting that the main purpose of their trip was to draw sketches while underwater. This was an innovative workshop taking place for the first time. Using graphite pencils and synthetic waterproof paper, they used the underwater sculptures as models for their drawings. All of the participants spoke with passion about their experience. Combining the sports activity of snorkelling with the artistic quality of sketching and drawing is indeed an extraordinary experience. Underwater drawing is drawing attention for quite a while. Roger Wainston is one of the most well-known artists of the underwater world and has been a pioneer on the subject. It is worth noting that one of his projects is the illustration of fishes in Australia. Starting in the ‘80s he found materials that could work underwater and developed a suitable drawing system. Although the whole project is still taking its first steps, it sounds tempting enough. Wouldn’t you be excited to live such an experience?
