Christ from the abyss. Unique sculptures in the seas and oceans (10 photos)

One of man-made miracles light created by photographer, sculptor and conservationist Jason de Caires Taylor in 2006, underwater park sculptures (The Underwater Sculpture Park), is located off the coast of Grenada in Molinier Bay, slightly north of the port of St. George's.
This is an amazing museum at the bottom caribbean, with breathtaking masterpieces, mysterious stone sculptures, two to five meters apart on an area of ​​800 square meters. m, living their lives: someone writes letters, someone lies and rests, someone rides a bike, someone dances ... All sculptures are available for viewing when diving under water at 4 - 6 meters and when on boats and in boats with a transparent bottom, thanks to the shallow water in which they are located.

Jason Dee Kyers Taylor, born in 1974, who surpassed his contemporaries in sculpture and diving, found a very interesting way to preserve the fragile sea ​​world: to create similar underwater parks in those places where there are the most affected coral reefs. Over time, marine life settles on artificial reefs, filtrate mollusks, as in a park off the coast of Grenada.
You can get to this underwater museum by driving from the island's capital, St. George's (3 km) to Molinere Bay beach. There, in the lagoon of the nature protection zone, tourists are given instructions before starting this exotic excursion to the bottom of the sea.
In The Underwater Sculpture Park) - about 70 sculptures that seem a quarter larger underwater than they really are. Colors also change due to refraction by water sunlight. In a mysterious fantastic atmosphere, underwater sculptures make you see the world in a new way.
The sculptures of the park under water were first created on land from special cement, and then they were immersed by a crane to the bottom of the Caribbean Sea and installed using pneumatic lifts.
Of great interest to tourists are such sculptures as: "Christ of the Depths", installed in memory of the death cruise ship Bianca, which sank 50 years ago off the coast of Grenada; a large sculptural group "Alternation", embodying the idea of ​​unity and eternity; an underwater bench near Taylor's sculpture "The Vicissitudes"; sculpture "Sienna" - a girl from the story "Another Ocean" ("A Different Ocean"), Jacob Ross (Jacob Ross) and many others.
A huge number of tourists, making a trip to Grenada, are sure to go to inspect the outlandish collection in the Underwater Sculpture Park, without even imagining how many emotions they will receive, seeing it all with their own eyes.

Incredible sculptures and statues in the underwater kingdom

Carefully and lovingly created sculptures and beautiful statues suddenly appeared under water. Unlike their terrestrial counterparts, underwater sculptures are closely related to marine flora and fauna, which only enhance and emphasize the author's intention. We offer sculptures of ancient masters, whose remains archaeologists today find on seabed, as well as the creations of contemporary artists who deliberately placed their works under water in order to convey their idea to the public.

Underwater Sculpture Museum, Cancun, Mexico

Artist Jason Taylor created this beautiful and deep meaning sculpture to draw the attention of mankind to the problem of the catastrophic loss of coral reefs over the past decades. The Cancun Underwater Sculpture Museum houses two of Taylor's works. Divers have a great opportunity besides admiring natural beauties ocean, visit the underwater museum of sculptures and see how they are gradually inhabited by corals. by the most interesting exhibits we can name the composition "Silent Evolution", the sculpture "Man on Fire", on which red corals grow, and 'ElColeccionistadeSueños' - a realistic image of a man with a dog guarding a collection of bottles with notes inside written in different languages ​​of the world, a kind of message to future generations .

Statues of Heraklion and Kanoba, Aboukir Bay, Egypt

Once upon a time, the cities of Heraklion and Kanob were considered the gateway to Egypt and were associated with prominent historical figures. ancient history, for example, with the king of Sparta Menalai, a participant in the Trojan War. The ruins of these two cities now lie on the sea floor, among which is a large number of fragments of ancient sculptures and statues, witnesses of past glory. Basically, these are statues of pharaohs, the ruins of temples and houses that they once decorated. Archaeologist Frank Goddio in 1999, accidentally discovering these fragments, proved the existence of Heraklion and Canobus.

Jesus Christ Abyssal, Italy

This original bronze sculpture of Jesus Christ, 2.5 m high, was created and lowered to the seabed in 1954. Due to rapid corrosion, the statue was brought to the surface for restoration, as a result of which the main elements were replaced with similar ones without changes. In 2004, it was returned to a depth of 6 m. The statue with its arms raised is associated with the deceased diver, Dario Gonzatti, who drowned in 1947.

Underwater statue among the ruins of Cleopatra's palace, Alexandria, Egypt

Ruins submerged 1,500 years ago are considered remains royal palace Cleopatra. The incredible beauty of the palace is well preserved and has become one of the attractions and highlights tourist routes. Among the sculptures here you can see animals, including lions, and ancient gods. In addition, at the bottom there are a lot of dishes, ruins of walls, columns and other objects of scientific interest to archaeologists.

Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada

The Underwater Sculpture Park was created by Jason Taylor. Sculptures are an integral part of the waters of Grenada, including underwater flora and fauna. main object underwater park Experts consider the composition "The Vicissitudes of Fate", consisting of a group of human-sized sculptures that hold hands, standing in a circle, symbolizing the dead slaves transported on boats. Many of the sculptures are already overgrown with coral, including a 'GraceReef' female figure lying on the bottom and a Lost Correspondent holding a newspaper with a 1970s news column.

Roman sculptures of Bailly, Bay of Naples, Italy

It is said that the bronze and stone sculptures of the Roman resort town Bayi was flooded as a result of a volcanic eruption. The flooded city of the Roman Empire was known for its rich inhabitants and excellent conditions for the healing and recreation of the nobility, who was mired in vices and sins. The city created a large number of marble sculptures, copies of bronze sculptures, which were preserved under the water column of the bay. In the 8th century AD Muslims destroyed the city, and in 1500 the city suffered from a malaria epidemic.

Underwater sculptures, Bali

At the bottom of the ocean off the islands of Bali is a group of underwater sculptures that have become part of the coral reef. They were deliberately lowered to the bottom to help the coral colony develop in the region. In addition, their presence makes divers' underwater walks interesting. Among the traditional sculptures, here you can find such an object as a bicycle. All these objects contribute to the development of the coral reef, which suffers catastrophically as a result of human activity.

Stone sculptures of the Seaside Temple, Mahabalipuram, India

The temple complex of Mahabalipuram is the subject of many myths and local legends associated with the seven most beautiful and luxurious temples. Today, only this temple has survived, its luxurious piers were destroyed by the ocean and local residents. The 2004 tsunami completely destroyed the temple. As a result, stone sculptures, tombs and reliefs that once adorned the temple were under water. Archaeologists still believe that the Seaside Temple was one of the Seven Pagodas mentioned in European folklore.

Gnome Park at the bottom of Lake Wastwater, Lake District, UK

The Gnome Underwater Park, perhaps the strangest of the ones presented in the review, was created to make diver's walks interesting. In the 1990s, after three divers died tragically, the gnomes were removed from the bottom of the lake. In 2005, the sculptures were returned to the bottom of Westwater, the deepest lake in the Lake District, after which the park was overgrown with new mystical stories. The sculptures are located at a depth of 50 m. There is a similar gnome park in the Scottish Loch Fyne.

Elephant Gulf of Thailand, Thailand

Divers visiting Phuket have the opportunity to see the beautiful elephant statues that are located in the northern part of the Gulf of Thailand. An artificial reef was installed at the bottom of the bay so that coral colonies could develop and, therefore, become the basis for the diversity of flora and fauna of the underwater ecosystem. In addition to the incredibly interesting and peculiar statues of elephants, at the bottom of the bay there is a temple gate and giant shells. There is also a fearsome giant stone fish. But the main attractions, nevertheless, are corals and Marine life who have made man's creations their home.

• Address: Malta, St Paul's Bay
• Weight: 13 tons
• Height: 3m
• Date of creation: 1990
• Sculptor: Alfred Camilleri Kushi

Christianity appeared in Malta as early as the 1st century AD - according to legend, it was spread here by the apostle Paul himself, who was sent to the court to Caesar, but as a result of a storm that broke out, the ship was carried on a stormy sea for 2 weeks, and he finally landed on the island, which then it was called Melit, and today it is called, or St. Paul's Islands (the name is used in the plural, since in fact these are two small islands connected by a narrow isthmus). Since then, Christianity has firmly taken root on the island.

Today on the island you can see more quantity associated with religion, but one of them occupies a special place - this is the statue of Christ the Savior, located under water off the coast of Malta, or rather, not far from the coast of St. Paul's island. The statue is made of concrete, its weight is 13 tons, and its height is 3 meters. On Maltese she is called Kristu L-Bahhar.

Work on the installation of a statue of Jesus Christ under water in Malta was timed to coincide with the first visit to the state by John Paul II in 1990. The famous Maltese sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cushi became the author of the statue, and the committee of Maltese divers headed by its chairman, Raniero Borg, became the customer. The cost of the work amounted to one thousand Maltese liras.

The statue of Christ under water attracts a large number of fans to Malta and it is to them that it owes its current location: previously it was located at a depth of 38 meters, but since there was a fish farm nearby, the water quality deteriorated significantly, which made visibility worse, and the statue could not be properly examined. Therefore, in 2000 it was moved, and today Christ is under water "only" at a depth of 10 meters near.

The statue of Christ under water was moved in May 2000; a crane was used to lift it from the bottom. Next to it is the flooded ferry Malta Gozo Ferry, which operated a message between Malta and.

Jesus Christ under water "looks" towards St. Paul's; from the depths, he stretches his arms upward and, according to believers, is the "personal protector" of sailors, fishermen and divers.

By the way, this is not the only statue of Jesus Christ under water - there are similar ones in several other places. The most famous is the "Christ of their abyss" in the bay of San Fruttuoso near Genoa; one copy of it is installed about underwater reef Dry Rocks off the Californian coast, and another was first under water off the coast of Grenada's capital, St. George, but was later removed from the water and installed on the capital's waterfront.

You can see the statue only with scuba gear and accompanied by an experienced instructor. To do this, contact one of the diving clubs near Mediterraneo Marine Park. You can get to the park by

The underwater world beckons with its mystery, and photographic equipment for shooting underwater is becoming more and more perfect. That means it's time to discover a new dimension! Moreover, there really is something to see underwater.

Christ from the Abyss (Portofino, Italy)

The oldest underwater Jesus stands in the bay of San Fruttuoso. This is a monument to the pioneer of Italian diving Dario Gonzatti, who died here in 1947. The statue of Christ made of bronze was installed in 1954 at a depth of 17 meters. Recently it was restored: it was cleaned of algae and the hand was repaired. The water in the bay is so transparent that a figure with arms raised up can be seen even from a boat.

Roman sculptures of Bailly, Italy

Once upon a time in Bailly town on the shore Gulf of Naples there was a marble workshop where copies of famous Greek sculptures and orders from influential families, such as the emperor Claudius. Due to volcanic activity part of the city of Bayi became underwater ruins. The statues that had not been destroyed by time were placed in the museum, and under water they were replaced by perfect replicas.

Underwater Museum of Art, Caribbean Sea, Mexico

Jason Taylor enthusiastically drowns his works around the world. Most major project- Museo Subacuático de Arte off the coast of Fr. Grenada. At the moment of opening in the first world park underwater statues there were "only" 68 realistic figures, now their number has exceeded five thousand. Taylor's goal is not only self-expression: the sculptures have become artificial reefs, their faces and bodies of cement lose their clarity over time, overgrown with shellfish and algae and contribute to the growth of biomass. So even an underwater fat man in front of the TV, with chips and a hamburger, will contribute to saving the planet.

Moai, Easter Island, Chile

The origin of the underwater moai, unlike its land counterparts, is not so mysterious, but also ambiguous. A copy of the seven-meter monolith with a stoic face was made in 1994 for the film " Rapa Nui produced by Kevin Costner. According to the second version, an empty shell of an idol made for a Chilean TV show Iorana, was filled with cement by local diver Mike Rapu and sunk to the bottom in honor of his grandfather, who introduced him to the ocean.

Ocean Atlas, New Providence Island, Bahamas

The author of the largest underwater sculpture is, who would doubt it, the ubiquitous Jason Taylor. Atlas (aka Atlant) in ancient Greek mythology holds the sky, and a 60-ton girl made of pH-neutral cement seems to support the surface of the water from the inside, reflecting from it at low tide. A giant copy of Camila - a local student who became Taylor's model - hints to everyone that the ocean must be protected, and even saved these days. This also emphasizes the location of the statue - here, right on coral reef, the waste of a nearby oil refinery is flowing.

Mermaid, oh Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

This graceful bronze mermaid is actually more status than you might expect. Its creator, Canadian Simon Morris, named her Amphitrite, who in Greek mythology was the wife of Poseidon and the queen of the seas. It stands just 50 meters from the shore at resort complex Sunset House, and tourists can easily swim to it with a mask or scuba gear.

Underwater sculpture park (The Underwater Sculpture Park) - unique museum located at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Grenada. The first exhibits, created by the English sculptor and environmental activist Jason Taylor, were sunk to the seabed in 2006.

The unusual collection of underwater monuments is replenished every year. Now under water you can see 65 exhibits, including human figures that have taken various forms; a cyclist riding on a sandy Caribbean bottom; watching TV fat man; a girl in a hat that looks like a sea witch; a journalist sitting at a typewriter and even Jesus, who raised his hands to heaven. The sculptures are located on an area of ​​800 square meters, at a small distance from each other, at a depth of about three meters.

The Jason Taylor project, in addition to the cultural component, is important for the balance of the local marine environment and the restoration of the wildlife ecosystem. In fact, the sculptures are artificial reefs, or the basis for the attachment of filtrate molluscs, which contributes to the growth of biomass. This measure was necessary for the region in connection with negative consequences the hurricane that struck Grenada in 2004, as well as a sharp increase in the number of tourists who, while scuba diving and engaging in active water sports sports, negatively affected the life of the underwater world.

To view the underwater museum, it is better to choose a diving tour, accompanied by a local instructor. Diving will allow you to see the sculptures up close, while snorkeling - despite the clean and clear waters lagoons - will allow viewing of monuments only at a distance. More detailed information about the underwater museum, as well as photos of Jason Taylor's new works lowered to the bottom, can be seen on the official website of The Underwater Sculpture Park.

How to get there

The underwater sculpture park is located in the lagoon, a short distance from the Molinere Bay beach, in a conservation area on west coast Grenada. You can get to the coast, from where dive safari routes start, from St. George's, the capital of the island, located six kilometers to the south. Before the start of the dive, tourists are explained the location of the sculptures, which are two to five meters apart from each other.

Location

The Underwater Sculpture Museum is located on the west coast, a few meters from Molinere Bay beach, north of St. George's, the capital of the island.