Mysterious apparitions emerge in the Caribbean Sea
The Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada, created by Jason deCaires Taylor, has recently grown with the addition of 31 captivating sculptures This aquatic masterpiece serves as an enchanting attraction that promotes ocean conservation through natural transformation
The first-ever underwater sculpture park in the world has expanded significantly. Crafted by British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006, the Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada has become one of the most sought-after underwater destinations in the Caribbean.
The mesmerizing exhibit has recently undergone a significant expansion, with 31 new sculptures incorporated into the site located within a marine protected area on the island's west coast.
Included in the new additions is "Coral Carnival," a series of sculptures inspired by Spicemas, Grenada's widely celebrated carnival that features famous masqueraders such as the "Jab Jab," a figure adorned with chains representing freedom for the people of Grenada.
Underwater attraction
The Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada has expanded, with the addition of 31 new sculptures.
Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com
The Grenadian Ministry of Implementation and Tourism has commissioned a project with the aim of highlighting Grenada's rich culture and history. "The carnival is a significant aspect of Grenada's culture and history, and they wanted to emphasize that narrative," deCaires Taylor explained to CNN Travel.
"I've found it fascinating to learn about the various masqueraders and the intriguing history behind them."
The sculptures, some of which were created in the UK, are actually based on real-life individuals who served as models for the artists.
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deCaires Taylor, along with local artists, created the majority of the new pieces to accurately represent the historical characters.
Natural transformation
Grenadian artist Troy Lewis designed four new sculptures, one of which is the Christ of the Deep, a reproduction of the statue presented to the Grenadian people as a token of gratitude for their assistance to the crew and passengers of the Bianca C, which sank on the island in 1961.
"Coral Carnival,"Â a sculpture series based on Grenada's annual carnival, is among the new works on display at the site off the west coast of Grenada.
The sculptures are created using high-grade stainless steel and pH-neutral marine cement, specifically designed to serve as artificial coral reefs. Their strategically placed holes and shelters are intended to attract marine life like octopuses and lobsters, ultimately creating a stunning and vibrant habitat. Find out more at Jason deCaires Taylor's website, underwatersculpture.com.
Within days of being installed, marine life had already taken up residence within the sculptures, as noted by deCaires Taylor. He described how an octopus had settled into the base of one, along with a family of crabs, while a stingray could be found in another.
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"Whats quite interesting about these characters is the silhouettes are really, really strong," he adds.
"Their uniqueness is so pronounced that their silhouettes are striking even from a distance. It's something I've never seen before. Additionally, this is the first time deCaires Taylor has incorporated color into his underwater sculptures."
"He notes that typically they are very gray," he explains. "But this time, we used natural pigments to paint the sculptures. I'm curious to see how the colors will change and if they will attract different marine life. Color has a significant impact on marine life."
Aquatic installations
Four of the new sculptures are the work of Grenadian artist Troy Lewis.
Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com
The exhibition made its debut on dry land at Grenada's Prickly Bay Marina earlier this year, marking a departure from deCaires Taylor's usual underwater displays. Among the visitors was Dickon Mitchell, the country's prime minister.
"It's something new for me, and it wasn't originally planned," deCaires Taylor admits, noting that the change was due to the unavailability of the deployment company for a period of time.
"I believe it's a great idea to increase accessibility before the exhibition opening. I'm considering incorporating this into all my future works as a longer public exhibit."
Using a crane and divers, the sculptures were meticulously installed underwater in late October.
DeCaires Taylor reported that the crane capacity on the island was lower compared to other destinations he has worked in, resulting in a longer process of fitting the sculptures. Exciting new discoveries off the Egyptian coast have revealed treasures and secrets.
"I spent eight hours underwater the other day, which is a bit of a record for me," he recalls.
Coral Carnival, which is accessible via boat, has been open to the public since late October.
The new sculptures have been installed at depths ranging from three to seven meters, and are accessible to both divers, snorkelers, and glass bottom boat riders, as long as visibility is favorable. The creation of the underwater sculpture park was initially conceived as a conservation initiative to revitalize marine life impacted by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and to alleviate overcrowding in some of the island's popular underwater areas.
"I've had the idea of creating something underwater for a while," deCaires Taylor explains. "I always thought it would be an intriguing location for a project, and it could potentially attract tourists away from other sites. It would also serve as a habitat for marine life."
"It's definitely one of my top projects," he confesses. "In fact, the marine life that inhabits these sculptures is some of the most impressive I've encountered in various regions."
Promoting ocean conservation
Despite launching several underwater galleries, such as the Museum of Underwater Art in Australia and the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa in Cyprus, deCaires Taylor holds a special connection to the Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park.
The sculptures are made of high-grade stainless steel and pH-neutral marine cement.
Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com
"That was what got me excited in the first place, seeing how they colonized and the artistry of nature really, supplanting what the human hand can do."
DeCaires Taylor's focus is mainly on promoting ocean conservation, and he is astonished by the recent changes to the sculptures. "This year has been one of the hottest in Grenada's history, and the sea is truly suffering," he explains.
"Massive coral bleaching is occurring on some of the reefs, and for the first time, I've observed bleaching on sculptures too. It's both thrilling and disheartening to witness the colonization, and I'm currently in discussions to establish a smaller park in Carriacou, Grenada's sister island, with a specific focus on these pressing issues."
I am deeply worried about the increasing sea levels, particularly for the small island nations. This is a topic that I definitely want to address. The changing ocean temperatures and the vulnerability of these places are of great concern to me.
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As deCaires Taylor continues his work on new projects in the UK, he eagerly anticipates returning to Molinere Bay to see how nature continues to reclaim his human-made creations in the years to come.
"These pieces have unique features, such as elevated horns, feathers, and sections that extend up into the water columns," he explains.
"So Im really excited to come back in a couple of years time. Because I think there will be lots of filter feeding in sponges and corals, which should attach to them. So that will be good."
