Underwater sculpture is nothing new, but there’s never been a project as ambitious—or as gorgeous, frankly—as the Subaquatic Museum of Art (MUSA, www.asociadosnauticoscancun.com), located in the waters between Cancún and Isla Mujeres.

British sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor created hundreds of life-size statues of everyday people—garbage men, pregnant women, wizened tribal leaders, nuns, children, and more—and sunk them in 9–20 feet of crystalline water near Manchones reef. Several masterpieces, like the remarkable Man on Fire, stand alone, while the bulk are clustered together in a collection called Silent Evolution.

Striking for their lifelike quality, the figures also were made from special cement that will promote coral and other sealife, eventually forming an artificial reef system. And the museum will draw visitors away from the Cancún Marine Park, which has been severely impacted by the 750,000-plus visitors it receives annually.

Most dive shops in Cancún and Isla Mujeres offer trips to the island, charging around US$25–35 for snorkelers and US$45–65 for divers.