Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Siren now available for divers!

Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Siren are the first two parts of Australia’s Museum Of Underwater Art, which were designed by renowned British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. The artist is renowned for creating underwater installations that not only delight divers around the world, but also help to create and regenerate coral reefs.

Jason’s latest project is located on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, specifically near Townsville and the islands of Magnetic Island and Palm Island. The first two parts of the Museum of Underwater Art project – Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Siren, located just off John Brewer Reef – have now opened and are open to divers.

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From the announcements we know that this is to be the most ambitious project that a British diver has ever carried out, and also the first one located in the southern hemisphere. Apart from being a great tourist attraction for divers visiting the Great Barrier Reef, the project also aims to educate people and raise environmental awareness.

“It is intended to be a space for art, an underwater education centre, a science laboratory and a safe haven for marine life.”

The purpose-built Coral Greenhouse is designed to dissipate ocean currents, providing a refuge for marine life to congregate around the sculptures placed inside. The entire structure is surrounded by a series of coral nurseries, organic stems and underwater ‘trees’ designed to facilitate coral growth.

The Ocean Siren, on the other hand, is a 5-metre high sculpture of a local girl that is powered by solar energy. Her job is to warn of changes in sea temperature. It uses real-time data from various locations on the Great Barrier Reef and… changes its colour to indicate a rise in temperature.

Museum Of Underwater Art is a joint project between the Australian Government, Queensland Regional Government, James Cook University, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Source: townsvilleenterprise.com.au