Cancún Underwater Museum

Located in the Mexico Caribbean Sea as part of the Great Mayan Reef, the underwater art installation, known locally as MUSA or Museo Subacuático de Arte, was launched in 2009 to help restore marine life in the Cancún and Isla Mujeres region.

Located on the sea bed, 30 feet below sea level, it has since become one of the top attractions in Cancún, popular for novice and advanced divers alike. The life-size sculptures can also be seen from the surface, which makes it perfect for snorkelers who can witness the beautiful figurines from above and the myriad marine fauna that have made it their home. 

Made of pH-neutral cement, the statues are designed by a number of artists including the renowned British artist Jason deCaires Taylor who is well known for doing similar underwater features across the globe, from Grenada to Australia. His work can be seen variously throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, among others, where they double as artificial coral reefs for the indiginous marine life.

You can also take one of the glass-bottomed boats that offer tours daily, which can be booked through the MUSA official site, as well as other operators.

The dive site can get pretty busy around its peak months from Jun through August, which corresponds with the annual migration of the majestic whale sharks to this region. If you are keen to visit the site during these months, the best time is first thing in the morning, before the tourist boats arrive for the day.

Need more information?

If you're interested in visiting the Cancún Underwater Museum and would like to incorporate a trip into your charter itinerary, please speak with your preferred yacht charter broker. 

To find out more about chartering in the region, check out our in-depth Mexico yacht charter guide for more information.