An Info Guide To The Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada

Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park is a majestic marine artwork. Built by Eco-Artist Jason deCaires Taylor, it shows strange figures in the sea. Extraordinary marine concrete figures form living parts of the coral reefs.

New art sculptures can inspire you and look unusual. The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park near Flamingo Bay is a green eco-art display. As an artist and ecologist, Taylor’s works are vital and grand.

The Sculpture Garden draws many tourists to Molinere Bay. It has had a good impact on local tourism. It is a one-of-a-kind art piece. The garden explores the fragile links between the sea and people.

The Caribbean’s first underwater sculpture park is a thing every scuba diving fanatic should see. But how did this haunting sunk display come to be, and can you experience this unique site?

Read on for a history of the Sculpture Park and how to view it.

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🔱 The History of the Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada

The idea for the sculpture park came from artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Work began on the Park in 2006. It was the first of such new underwater art displays.

The British sculptor wanted the concrete figures to engage the local public. As a result, over seventy sculptures dot the sands of the bay; some standing in rings, some alone.

The most famous is a circle of twenty-six life-size figures who stare out at the ocean, their hands held. Taylor called it the ‘Vicissitudes.’ The local children cast the concrete figures.

There is a tragic yet beautiful look on their serene faces. The concrete gives a place for new life to take hold. Corals and seaweeds grow, and fish dart between the figures.

Other artworks show a man at his desk, his fingers above his typewriter. Newspapers surround him with articles about significant moments before the Cuban revolt.

Taylor put the first sculptures in place in 2006. He added more a year later. The first concrete figures gave places for corals to regrow. The process took less than fourteen months.

There are seventy-five sculptures across the 8,600-square-foot site. They provide an eerie underwater gallery. Here human art meets the ocean’s coral dreamland.

Other artists added to the underwater sculpture garden. They include Rene Froelich, Jefferson Thomas, and Troy Lewis.

The Lost Correspondent (Photo Credit: Viator)

🤷‍♀️ Why Was the Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada Commissioned?

Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor calls himself an ‘eco-artist.’ His work began two years after Hurricane Ivan.

The storm caused severe damage to Grenada. The island suffered total ruin, impacting many of the coral reefs.

Taylor wanted to create a reef art project under the water. It would leave viewers thinking about the fragile link between people and the ocean.

Scuba divers would swim through the coral reefs and come across various sculptures. These pieces became part of the coral reefs and the many kinds of marine life.

Taylor wanted the statues to make people think about marine care and human history. He placed his first sculpture, the Lost Correspondent, with marine biologists’ help.

The project grew. What began as one artwork became two. From there, another twenty-six new sculptures. Finally, the great shift from concrete figures to living statues began.

Since then, Taylor has built underwater gardens of live sculptures worldwide. Parks in Grenada and the Bahamas show the bond between humans and the sea.

🏗️ Materials Used in The Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada

Taylor used pH-neutral cement made using marine-grade cement, micro-silica, and sand. The sculptures are then made stronger where needed with rebars made of fiberglass.

He seeds live coral onto the sculptures, using pieces from broken reefs. Then, blending the living reefs with these strange figures, Taylor creates his sculptures. They are pieces meant to make viewers think about their place in the world.

The materials boost life by making a stable platform. In addition, the concrete has a texture that allows coral polyps to attach.

Taylor placed the statues down current. The natural flow of the water helps new polyps to settle after spawning.

The positions support animals such as fish and crabs to use them as habitats.

👀 How Do You See The Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada?

You can access this popular diving and snorkeling site by boat. It is only about ten minutes from the land.

While viewing the sculptures, scuba divers can see all kinds of marine reef life. The waters are home to corals, turtles, tropical fish, and manta rays.

The National Marine Park displays the artworks. The sculptures are close to the shore. You can reach them by walking down the bay and swimming into the sea.

Snorkelers can see some structures which are only six feet down. Other sculptures rest twenty-six feet deep and are best seen by diving.

It would help if you went on a scuba dive tour for the best experience. Another option is to view them via a glass-bottom boat.

☀️ The Best Time To Visit The Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada

You need a wristband when visiting the Underwater Sculpture Park. This band costs 1-2 US dollars. You must keep your wristband on while in the Marine Protected Area.

Some tour groups already include this fee, so check beforehand. Grenada is suitable for diving year-round. However, the best time to visit is between January and May, when Grenada has its dry season.

June to December is the rainy season. The highest chances of tropical storms are in August and September. This makes them less popular months to explore the sculpture park.

🤿 Companies Offering Tours Of The Underwater Sculpture Park Grenada

Some companies offer all-inclusive tours of the Park. But it is best to use a guided tour group.

Official tours will follow the conservation guidelines. Some guidelines prevent dropping anchors in certain protected areas.

If you need scuba diving courses, PADI instructors are available.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a diving certification. Some companies offer sailing and snorkeling cruises.

You’ll easily find a trip operator along Grand Anse

FAQs

How Deep Is The Sculpture Park In Grenada?

The depth of the Sculpture Park changes between pieces. Some pieces are in areas as shallow as six feet deep. Most of the Park’s figures sit between nine and sixteen feet deep.

The well-known circle of children called ‘Vicissitudes’ is at a depth of sixteen feet. The ‘Lost Correspondent,’ the first of the artworks, sits at a depth of twenty-three feet.

Why Are There Human Statues Underwater?

Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor placed human statues in Molinere Bay. They were a reaction to the awful effects of Hurricane Ivan. These sculptures showcase the weak link between humanity and the ocean.

The sculptures form part of a man-made reef. Taylor created this reef to attract a variety of marine life to return to the area.

How Much Does it Cost to View The Underwater Park?

The underwater Park is in the National Marine Park.

The entry fees are:

  • Snorkelers – $1 
  • Divers – $2

The fees go to looking after the Park.

Many people view the sculptures as part of a guided tour. These tours range in price. Longer tours will cost more. 

Some tours will give you more choices. These will cost more. Many tours include the cost of the entrance fee bracelet.

🗣️ Final Words

The strange and beautiful Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada is a must-see.

No written description will do justice to the eerie underwater location. Its array of art pieces and marine life is stunning.

See the power and beauty of these rare living sculptures. Put Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park on your dive or snorkel list.

I’m the founder and chief editor here at Sailing Savvy. I spent a decade working as a professional mariner and currently, I mix those experiences with digital publishing. Welcome, and I hope that we can be the hub you need for safe passage.