The Cancún Underwater Museum is an underwater sculpture museum housing over 500 unique sculptures across multiple galleries on the ocean floor. Located within the National Marine Park in Cancún and Isla Mujeres, this unique art museum appeals to visitors of all ages. Multiple tour types are available at the Cancún Underwater Museum, from snorkelling and diving to glass-bottom boat excursions, ranging from 45-minute tours to five-hour experiences.
The Cancún Underwater Museum was designed as an act of conservation, with the goal of saving nearby reefs that were being damaged by visitors and divers. In the shoreside Visitor’s Centre, you’ll find information on the Cancún Underwater Museum’s history, design, and conservation efforts, as well as background information on the artists and underwater art installations. You can also explore a collection of dry-land sculpture replicas at the Visitor’s Centre, as well as an artist workshop, a sculpture garden, and a gift shop.
Cancún Underwater Museum - one of the highlights of 8 Best Things to Do in Cancun with Kids and 10 Best Things to Do in Cancun (Read all about Cancun here)
What are the highlights of the Cancún Underwater Museum?
There are a variety of different ways to enjoy the sculpture galleries at the Cancún Underwater Museum. Glass-bottom boat tours are appropriate for all ages and abilities and provide views over the museum’s sculpture galleries and diverse marine life. You’ll also see native coral reefs and learn about conservation efforts on your guided tour. Adventure seekers can go on a snorkelling or diving tour to enjoy up-close views of the unique underwater artwork and coral reefs.
Within the shallower Punta Nizuc gallery of the Cancún Underwater Museum, you’ll see sculptures blend human forms with marine life in pieces like The Last Supper, Reclamation, Threshold, and the Ocean Muse. In the Salon Manchones, you’ll see underwater art installations ranging from a sculpted car and an Urban Reef House to sculpted bombs and mines.
Foto de Andy Blackledge (CC BY 2.0) modificada
What is the history behind the Cancún Underwater Museum?
The Cancún Underwater Museum was designed in response to ongoing damage to the region’s natural coral reefs and marine life ecosystems. All statues within the underwater museum are created with pH-neutral marine cement and are cleaned before being placed underwater to ensure no chemicals are introduced into the ocean.
The statue’s large sturdy structures and foundational bases provide the perfect artificial environment to encourage the growth of new coral. Over time, sculptures within the Cancún Underwater Museum are being transformed by nature into flourishing underwater ecosystems. Visiting tourists, divers, and boaters are drawn to the unique offerings of the Cancún Underwater Museum, resulting in less traffic and better protection for the region’s natural coral reefs and marine life.
Foto de Andy Blackledge (CC BY 2.0) modificada
Good to know when visiting the Cancún Underwater Museum
Most snorkelling tours at the Cancún Underwater Museum include all gear and equipment needed for your tour. Different diving tours are available with and without diving certifications, and basic diving equipment is provided for each diver. Lockers, bathrooms, and refreshments are also provided for most tours of the Cancún Underwater Museum.
Visitors to the Cancún Underwater Museum must be a minimum age of 4 years old for snorkelling tours and 12 years old for diving tours. All minors must also be accompanied by a parent, and you can see the museum’s website for more details before booking. Most tours at the popular Cancún Underwater Museum require advance reservations.
Cancún Underwater Museum
Ubicación: Cerrada Las Golondrinas Lote #24, Zona Hotelera, 77560 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Horarios: Daily from 9 am to 2 pm
Teléfono: +52 998-810-4508
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