Underwater sculpture park Grenada (Molinere Bay)
The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park in the Caribbean Sea, is located of the west coast of Grenada, and can be reached easily by a 10 minute boat ride out of St Georges. The sculptures are created by the British sculptor Jason deClaires Taylor and are forming a artificial reef in the Molinere Bay.
The underwater sculpture park covers about 800 square meters (8611 square ft) and consists of 75 individual sculptures that form solo and group formations all together about 15 tons of dry cement was used. The maximum depth is about 40 ft (12 meters). In May 2006 the park was declared open.
Taylor's idea was not only to reflect Grenada's history and culture, but also to aid the reefs after this area got bashed by hurricanes Ivan and Emely in 2004 and 2005. The sculptures are designed to stimulate coral growth and are placed up current so that when the corals spawn the polyps have something to attach them self to. Already the results can be seen, and the sculptures are the home a variety of fish, shrimp and fire worms among other.
Because of the shallow waters in the Molinere Bay the Park is ideal for snorkelers and scuba divers.
The small fee, about $2, is used to maintain the park.
One of the best known sculptures is called Vicissitudes, it is composed of life sized figures that represent the local children holding hands and forming a circle at only 5 meters depth:
TAM CC Faces, this installation was done together with college students from the local community, and consists of life sized faces side by side molded in a large rock.
The Christ of the deep sculpture is a replica of the one in St Georges, the original was given to the people of Grenada to show gratitude for their help and selflessness after the Bianca C tragedy. The Bianca C is a very popular dive site and the biggest wreck in the Caribbean. The underwater sculpture marked the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.
Here are some of the 24 dive sites offered by Sandals:
Bianca C wreck:
600 ft cruise liner that sank in 1961, with a depth of 115 - 164 ft this is a dive for Advanced divers.
Flamingo Bay;
This wall is covered in sponges and corals and runs from 23 to about 100 ft. Lobster, crags, batfish, Tarpon, grouper and sometimes seahorses can be observed at Flamingo Bay.
Molinere/ Sculpture Park;
An 80 ft wall covered in gorgonians and often plenty of barracudas followed by the sculpture park at 15 ft
Shark reef;
Nurse sharks sleeping in thw stone ledges are often seen on this 62 ft dive, along with lobster, a variety of moray eels, file fish and black durgons.
Dragon Bay;
Whibbles reef;
Fast-paced drift dive, with a depth from 49 to 85 ft. Horse Eye Jacks, Barracuda and Eagle Rays cruise along, keep an eye out for the Hawksbill Turtles that are camouflaged by the reef.
MV Veronica;
This 85 ft long Cargo ship lies between 45 and 60 ft depth. Fully covered in soft corals and sponges. Golden Tail Moray Eels, Sea Horses, Frogfish, Green- and Spotted Morays made the MV Veronica their home.
Sandals St George Grenada is re-opening on the 31 st of March!
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