I went snorkeling to see the world's first underwater sculpture park
Rebecca Strong
- I went snorkeling in Grenada to see the world's first underwater sculpture park.
- Jason deCaires Taylor's newest sculptures celebrate the Grenadian Spicemas festival.
Art museums have never done much for me.
When I'm traveling, I'd much rather wander through a rainforest or rent a stand-up paddle board than analyze someone else's creative works.
Yet that's exactly what I found myself doing on my trip to the Caribbean.
The difference? Rather than standing in a stuffy, air-conditioned gallery, I was treading water while gazing down at Jason deCaires Taylor's newest masterpieces through a snorkel mask.
What makes the art so special is that witnessing it is an adventure in and of itself, whether you choose to scuba dive, snorkel, or gaze down from a glass-bottomed kayak.
Although Taylor's work can now be found worldwide in places like France, Mexico, and Australia, Grenada's underwater sculpture park was the first of its kind.
Here's what I saw on my snorkeling excursion to this awe-inspiring attraction.
My journey started at the docks in Grenada’s capital.
The underwater sculpture park can only be accessed by boat.
Several tour operators in Grenada offer trips to Molinere Bay, where the sculptures are located.
I took a catamaran — endearingly named Sky Flirt — with Wind and Sea Grenadines, which boarded in the colorful capital of Saint George's.
This excursion also included an authentic Grenadian lunch on board.
Getting out to the park in Molinere Bay entailed a short catamaran ride.
Molinere Bay is home to Grenada's famed underwater sculpture park — and it was only about a 15-minute catamaran ride to get there from the dock in St. George's.
Once there, it was time to get our snorkeling gear on.
Because this was my first time snorkeling, it took a few minutes to get my mask to fit comfortably.
The flippers were too big for my feet, but I'm a pretty good swimmer and knew I'd be wearing a life vest, so I opted to go without them.
Our tour operator told us we'd be able to see the sculptures from the water's surface and guided us off the boat.
I got to see Taylor’s newest collection, which was inspired by Grenada’s Spicemas celebration.
Taylor's newest collection, "The Coral Carnival," was installed in October and added dozens of new sculptures to the already impressive exhibit, which originally opened in 2006.
"The Coral Carnival" celebrates Spicemas, an annual Grenadian festival comparable to Brazil's Carnival, and offers incredible insight into the country's local history and culture.
Each piece in the collection represents an iconic masquerader in the festival.
Taylor collaborated with several Grenadian artists — who won a local design competition — to help ensure the sculptures represented these characters accurately and authentically.
One that stood out to me was "Wild Indian," a character inspired by the Amerindian heritage of South American immigrants, who wears a feathered headdress, beaded jewelry, and face and body paint.
Some of the sculptures also have historical symbolism.
One classic — but often misunderstood — Spicemas masquerader is Jab Jab.
The name translates to "double devil" in French, and the character is meant to satirize the monstrous actions of slaveowners.
The character often wears or carries chains, which signify breaking free from the slavery of the island's past.
In Spicemas celebrations, people dressing as Jab Jab often paint themselves with black engine oil or molasses and wear devil horns as a powerful message of rebellion against oppression.
Local artists covered the sculpture of Jab Jab in pigments made from organic black squid ink.
The latest collection is a lot more colorful than his previous one.
Taylor used natural pigments to add color to his latest batch of sculptures, which were previously all gray.
I also found that this made the newest sculptures more easily visible and recognizable from farther away.
The attention to detail is astonishing.
Also known as Pretty Mas, Fancy Mas is Spicemas' spectacular parade of masqueraders.
This sculpture showcases how they're often adorned in eye-catching jewels, feathers, and sequins with intricate headpieces.
The sculptures have a larger eco-friendly purpose and serve as artificial reefs.
Taylor's sculptures aren't just stunning to look at — they also serve as artificial reefs for coral polyps and other marine life to cling to, find shelter, or hide from predators.
As an added benefit, the sculptures help to lure divers and tourists away from more sensitive reefs impacted by Hurricane Ivan.
After my trip, I have a newfound appreciation for art.
Taylor's work completely transformed the way I view and admire art.
That's because his sculptures aren't just beautiful pieces to look at — they serve an ecological purpose while also offering incredible insight into Grenada's culture and traditions.
My next travel goal? Visiting one of Taylor's other underwater sculpture museums around the world.
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