Once you enter the water and begin your descent, a surreal underwater world opens up beneath you. A large structure resembling a greenhouse comes into view with numerous fish species darting around it, while human-like figurines slowly reveal their colourful coral coverage upon getting a closer look. Beneath the crystalline waters of the John Brewer Reef lies an experience that unites art, science, and conservation: MOUA, the Museum of Underwater Art. As the world’s largest collection of coral reefs and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Great Barrier Reef holds immense ecological, economic, and cultural significance. It is this invaluable treasure that MOUA is dedicated to safeguarding for future generations.

The seeds of MOUA were sown in 2016 when Dr Adam Smith from Reef Ecologic hosted a reef leadership course in Townsville. Among the attendees were Paul Victory, the former chair of SeaLink and North Queensland Tourism, and the Director of the Cancun Marine Park, which already boasted an underwater museum at the time. It was during this meeting of kindred minds that the concept of an underwater museum on the Great Barrier Reef emerged, driven by the mission to protect it. With the vision in place, the artist Jason deCaires Taylor was enlisted in June 2017 to conduct a feasibility study for this audacious endeavour. Having fallen in love with the Great Barrier Reef during his tenure as a diving instructor many years before, Jason returned to this captivating wonderland to craft a series of mesmerising underwater sculptures. 

For deCaires Taylor “art is a means of exploration.” He recalls: “By bringing my artwork into such an unusual context, we may start to understand more of ourselves and our connection to nature. Working on the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, provided a unique starting point for such an exploration.”

The Great Barrier Reef holds significant ecological and economic value. It stands as one of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems, harbouring an extensive array of marine species, and acting as a natural defence against storm surges and coastal erosion. It supports various industries, generating employment opportunities and billions of dollars in revenue. However, it is the Great Barrier Reef’s cultural significance that fuels MOUA’s inspiration and empowers its artists to delve into our relationship with nature.