Explore the Coast: The Underwater Museum of Art

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPRING RUN MEDIA AND WE CREATE LIFT

The Gulf of Mexico is a destination for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. What many of us experience for just a few brief days per year is habitat to protected marine life and species that are sensitive to environmental changes, with artificial reefs being built as an effort to create new habitat.

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ess than a mile offshore of Grayton Beach State Park, divers and snorkelers can experience several submerged artificial reefs and, as its latest project, an underwater museum with artwork created by local artists. At a depth of approximately 60 feet, the artwork doubles as a marine habitat.

The Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) received worldwide recognition as one of Time magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places” of 2018. With artists having to adhere to strict guidelines for the materials used, there is no limitation to the creativity, with an added value of creating marine habitat. Visitors to Grayton Beach State Park who dive down to see the museum will be greeted by tall, ethereal sculptures surrounded by marine life.

Deployed in 2018, the sculptures at the Underwater Museum of Art have garnered enormous worldwide media attention and excitement for our area from National Geographic, CNN, the Smithsonian, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Every year, artists from around the globe are invited to enter their sculpture to be judged by a panel of qualified art professionals for acceptance into the museum. Local artists can contribute to making our area a top destination by adding their own artwork for consideration in the UMA installation. Interested artists can visit UMAFL.org to complete a pre-application. The selection for the next round of art to be entered into the museum will take place this summer.

This aquatic gallery is the brainchild of The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), in partnership with South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA). The CAA states that the museum’s purpose “is to create art that becomes marine habitat, expand fishery populations and provide enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of residents, students, and visitors in South Walton.” With the plan to add art to the depths of the museum every year, this is a sight that will continue to grow and change with time.

Find out more about the Underwater Museum by visiting umafl.org.