Most of us have enjoyed a visit to a famous art gallery at one point or another, and have marveled at the variety and detail in which various subjects have been brought to life in new ways. For a truly stunning and unforgettable experience, visit Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park. With 65 sculptures by artist Jason DeCaires Taylor, the park covers an area of 800 square meters; and all features are at depths shallow enough for even the newest diver to enjoy. Let’s take a look at just a few favorite masterpieces, which were put here to encourage new coral growth after Grenada’s coastline was battered by recent hurricanes and tropical storms.
Grace Reef
Consisting of sixteen figures, all cast from a local woman named Grace, this reef features both front and back profiles of Grace in a variety of poses. As planned, coral and sponge has slowly taken hold, creating a colorful tapestry among the enormous statues. Some of the statues are partially covered or even completely hidden by the shifting sands; sometimes it is hard to find all sixteen statues. Maximum depth is just 4.2 meters, allowing the light from above to play across Grace’s features beautifully.
La Diablesse
More than six feet tall and three feet wide, this she-devil is based on a character from Caribbean folklore. Pronounced “La Jah-bless”, and reviled by women, this devil woman emerges at night in hopes of seducing men. Once convinced to follow La Diablesse to her lair, her male victims are placed under a spell and killed. The devil woman walks them off a cliff, or stomps on their heads with a sharp, cloven hoof. Dressed in a bewitching wide-brimmed hat, an innocent white blouse, and a long, demure skirt, this lovely sculpture has a frightening face and is slowly gaining a shroud of colorful coral. Tiny fish, unafraid of her menacing glare, dart to and fro. At a depth of just 7.5 meters, this spooky sculpture is a must see.
The Lost Correspondent
Featuring a male figure seated for eternity at his desk, which is covered in laminated newspaper articles that date back to the 1970’s, The Lost Correspondent is a favorite with all divers, particularly with those who enjoy reading or writing, or who want the perfect photo for a computer screensaver. The male figure, which looks forlornly at his coral-encrusted typewriter, was cast from a local dive master named Ricardo. Located at a depth of 7 meters, this sculpture sits in a rocky alcove and faces a huge boulder.
More Favorites
Cycling enthusiasts love Fall From Grace – the sculpture features a cyclist, pedaling madly but going nowhere. In the Un-Still Life, a table holds a simple pitcher and a bowl overflowing with fruit-shaped spheres. In the beginning, this sculpture was stark and white; today, it is beautifully covered in tiny bits of coral and sponge. Sienna, a simple sculpture featuring open framework, is based on a free-diving character from Jacob Ross’ story A Different Ocean. In the TamCC Project, a row of eighteen faces lines a rocky reef structure. The Vicissitudes were cast from real children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. The kids stand, holding hands, united in a circle.
Beautiful up close and fantastic to view from a distance, all these sculptures can be seen on a single dive, although art enthusiasts and photographers may want to spend hours among the silent figures. Local dive operators run regular trips to the Underwater Sculpture Park, and it is also possible to hire a boat on your own to visit. Bring your camera, and prepare to be amazed.