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Atlántico Museum: Europe’s Underwater Marvel

Diving into History: Museo Atlántico's Origin

The Atlántico Museum, located 14 meters below sea level in the Canary Islands of Spain, is the continent’s first undersea museum. Jason DeCaires Taylor, a British sculptor who was selected as the 25th marvel of the world by National Geographic, is the architect of this museum. He formerly created the world’s first undersea museum in 2006 on the west shore of Grenada in western India. Off the coast of Mexico, he also constructed the second undersea museum in the world in 2009.

This sculptor is additionally an authorized diver. Further to their striking visual appeal and unforeseen parts, the viewer is left questioning why the artist chose to display his works in a sea and ocean atmosphere. The artist’s works in the Atlantico Museum show people who travel to Europe by sea in the hope of a better life, and nothing but drowning is brought to them. Taylor’s sculptures are created in the size of real people, although sometimes they have happy faces; pain and expectation can be seen deep in their faces.

View of Atlantico Museum
View of Atlantico Museum

The artist’s works in the Atlantico Museum show people who travel to Europe by sea in the hope of a better life, and nothing but drowning is brought to them. Taylor’s sculptures are created in the size of real people, although sometimes they have happy faces; pain and expectation can be seen deep in their faces.

Atlantico Museum in Spain; The first submarine museum in Europe!

One of the adventurous trips that any tourist or foreign tourist can experience in Spain is a trip to the Museo Atlantico. This museum, which lies on the coastline of Lanzarote, is the initial undersea museum in Europe. A museum operated by Jason DeCaires Taylor. The said museum was established in 2016 and includes 10 underwater installations and more than three hundred sculptures, which were built with the aim of searching for contemporary themes, protecting the environment, and optimal use of natural resources.

Atlántico Museum
Atlántico Museum

But Taylor has not been alone in creating underwater art, and a team of local divers and swimmers have also helped him build and move the underwater sculptures and installations. Since then, local residents and foreign tourists have also collaborated in the construction of these sculptures by modeling live molds.

Construction objectives of the Atlántico Museum

Taylor’s goal of building and implementing this project is divided into three parts.

1. Environmentalists can rest assured

The most important goal of this underwater museum is that the sculptures placed in an area of 50 square meters provide a suitable platform for the home building and life of aquatic animals and fish in that area. And in fact, the Museo Atlantico is supposed to become an artificial coral site in the first place and create a new life for the area’s aquatic life.

All the sculptures are supposed to be made using an inert type of cement with a neutral pH so that the colonization of the fish can be done without any problems. Stainless steel and fiberglass are also going to be used to complete the decorations. Considering it creates new environments for the underwater creatures on the island, the Atlantic Underwater Museum likewise doesn’t hurt the planet but also benefits it.

Atlántico Museum in Spain
Atlántico Museum in Spain

2. Bitter art from Syrian immigrants to tourists with cameras

Taylor’s second goal of developing this museum is to tell the sad events that have happened in the world recently with the language of art. And what is more important, more sad and bitter than the death of Syrian immigrants who were planning to reach European countries by sea, and many of them were killed due to traveling with unsuitable boats, disease, hunger, and other accidents. They had a hope of living ordinary lives free of disputes, but what they witnessed was the icy brutality of the sea. Therefore, what better place than the calm sea bed to see and think about the results of excessive power-seeking and inhumane wars?

In another part of the museum, he has built the Atlantic Gate, and tourists with normal looks and some cameras are going towards it and entering the legendary city of the Atlantic. The face and appearance of this part of the sculpture are inspired by the people of the island of Lanzarote itself.

3. Tourist attraction and economic prosperity of the island

Numerous nations now devote their whole attention to the visitor sector because the industry becomes a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. The underwater museum is no exception to this rule, and in addition to inviting divers to an extremely attractive and unique experience, ordinary tourists can also visit this museum using glass bottom boats.

Atlantico Museum, Spain
Atlantico Museum, Spain

The attractions of the Atlantico Submarine Museum of Spain

The Atlantic Ocean Museum was designed to produce an artificial reef on a large scale and currently consists of 10 different groups of sculptures. Visitors to this museum can see a group of 35 human figures walking toward a wall. They can see the famous boat off Lampedusa in the Atlantic Ocean Museum; this boat is a reference to the current refugee crisis.

One of the attractions of the Atlantic Ocean Museum is the composite statue (half human, half cactus); these sculptures show the integration of nature and humanity. The statue of a couple taking a selfie and some photographers also refer to the use of technology in modern society. In a part of the Atlantic Ocean Museum, human graves can be seen, which consist of 200 life-size statues and are placed in an unfinished circle.

Atlantico Museum, Atlantic Ocean, Spain
Atlantico Museum, Atlantic Ocean, Spain

Conditions for visiting the Atlantico Submarine Museum of Spain

We now know that Lanzarote, Spain is host to the first underwater exhibition in Europe. The aim of building the marine museum is protecting natural resources and promoting a culture of nature-loving. Therefore, the requirements for visiting this special museum are distinct from those of other museums.

Here, visitors have to dive to reach the museum. This is also possible through the rental of diving and scuba gear, which is located in the port of Marina Rubicon in the south of the island. Usually, renting a diving suit is around €12 (Euro), but renting a snorkel is around €8 (Euro). In addition, tours to visit this submarine museum are held daily for applicants with a diving certificate and for applicants without swimming skills.

View of Atlantico Museum, Spain
View of Atlantico Museum, Spain

Conclusion

An internationally recognized undersea museum is the Atlantic Ocean Museum. In order to boost the public’s comprehension of the importance of needing to save our maritime surroundings, a museum was founded in Spain in 2016.

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