Beginning in 2009, Mexico submerged hundreds of life-size sculptures; the underwater figures were designed to attract marine life as well as visitors

In 2009, an unusual collection of human figures began appearing beneath the Caribbean Sea near Cancún and Isla Mujeres. The sculptures were not placed there simply as an underwater attraction. They were made from marine-grade concrete and designed to become surfaces where algae, sponges and corals could settle. The project became the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA), an underwater museum designed to attract divers and snorkelers while adding structures to an area already under pressure from heavy tourism. The University of Texas Marine Science Institute describes MUSA as an artificial reef project made up of hundreds of sculptures, with the first installations dating to 2009. Over time, the figures were expected to change as marine life gradually covered the concrete.

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