Lanzarote welcomes new under-sea museum
05 February 2016 09:05
Las Coloradas bay will host the new museum
Travellers heading for the sun-kissed Canary Islands will soon be able to enjoy the first under-sea museum in Europe.
Lanzarote's latest tourist attraction is taking shape with Jason deCaires Taylor's sculptures now installed on Las Coloradas Bay 's seabed.
The Atlantic Museum will be accessible to snorkellers and divers of all abilities from beginners to veterans.
Organisers want the project to become a breeding area for species in the region, which is a UNESCO-declared Biosphere Reserve.
Travel insurance
Anyone looking forward to an all-year-round hot weather destination like the Canaries can also take warmth from the comfort of travel insurance.
This covers travellers against some of the worst things the holiday fates can throw at them. These include lost baggage, missing passports and medical problems.
What's going to be in the new museum?
A big artificial reef comprising PH-neutral, high-density concrete sculptures free of any corrosive materials and metals will be created. This means that the region's fauna won't be affected, nor will its marine ecosystem.
The art installations will be submerged at depths from 12 to 15 metres and depict everyday life scenes.
Artist deCaires Taylor has wide experience of such projects, having already had underwater artworks fitted in undersea museums in the Antilles, Cancun and the Bahamas. He is famed for highlighting the ocean's vulnerability through his work.
Museum sculptures
Tourists will soon be able to enjoy the first set of sculptures which have just been fitted:
The Rubicon: this depicts 35 people walking together towards the Atlantic
The Raft of the Medusa: the works of French painter Theodore Gericault inspired this reflection about humanitarian crises
The Jolateros: this one shows children in Jolateros - locally made tin boats
Content: a commentary on modern society with a couple's selfie challenging us to explore people's obsession with technology and themselves
Hybrid sculptures: these examine the natural bonds between humanity and the living environment via half-cactus, half-human creations
The Photographers: this aims to stimulate debate concerning voyeurism and new technology