Offbeat Travel: The Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada

The Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada offers one of the most imaginative and captivating ways to explore the ocean’s beauty while contributing to environmental conservation. Situated in Molinere Bay, just a short distance from the capital city of St. George’s, this underwater attraction is a pioneering blend of art, nature, and conscious tourism.

Conceived by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006, the park was the world’s first of its kind—a set of human-made sculptures deliberately placed underwater to encourage coral regeneration and support marine biodiversity. Taylor designed the sculptures to create artificial reefs that would offer a haven for marine life, providing the opportunity for damaged coral to regenerate and flourish. As such, the sculptures are made from a pH-neutral cement that serves as a suitable substrate for coral to grow.

Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada

Over time, these statues have become an important part of the underwater ecosystem, turning static pieces of art into dynamic reefs teeming with life. The underwater setting invites visitors into a space where art and the natural environment coexist and evolve together, bringing attention to the fragility and beauty of marine ecosystems.

The park’s origins are deeply linked to Grenada‘s need for ecological restoration. After Hurricane Ivan struck the Caribbean island in 2004, much of the coral reef around Molinere Bay suffered significant damage. In response, the Underwater Sculpture Park was envisioned as both an artistic endeavor and a marine conservation effort. By creating a new habitat for marine creatures and coral, Taylor and those who supported the project hoped to alleviate the pressure on natural reefs and give them time to recover. Since its inception, the park has drawn snorkelers and divers away from vulnerable reefs, thereby helping to balance the tourism impact in the area.

Still Life, Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada

The underwater gallery features more than 65 sculptures, each with its own story. The haunting figures of men and women, many of whom are cast from local Grenadians, are posed in various groupings, from a ring of children holding hands to individuals engaged in everyday activities. The sculptures reflect themes of community, resilience, and the island’s connection to the sea. As marine life colonizes the sculptures, the figures evolve, changing their appearance over time and taking on new forms that merge the human and natural worlds.

The Underwater Sculpture Park is easily accessible from Grenada’s main tourist areas, making it a popular excursion for visitors. Many tour operators in St. George’s offer boat trips to Molinere Bay, and the journey takes just 10 to 15 minutes. Once at the site, guests can experience the sculptures through a variety of activities, including snorkeling, scuba diving, or even glass-bottom boat tours for those who prefer to stay dry. The clear, shallow waters of the bay provide excellent visibility, making it ideal for even novice snorkelers to take in the surreal sights.

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Cyclist, Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada

For those diving or snorkeling, there’s a certain thrill in swimming alongside the silent figures as fish dart around them and corals flourish, slowly reclaiming the human forms for the ocean. Divers can get an up-close view of the texture of the sculptures, noticing how marine organisms have made homes in nooks and crannies, and how the sculptures seem to shift in appearance as light filters through the water. For those opting for a glass-bottom boat tour, the experience offers a window into an underwater world that tells a story of both human creativity and the resilience of nature.

The sculpture park also serves as a model for other regions looking to combine tourism with conservation. Similar underwater sculpture parks have since been established in locations such as Mexico, the Bahamas, and Indonesia, following in the footsteps of the Molinere Bay initiative. Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park shows how thoughtful, sustainable tourism projects can make a difference, inviting travelers not just to witness beauty, but to be a part of its restoration and preservation.

Have you ever visited Grenada’s underwater sculpture park? Tell us about it in the comments below!