Cyprus's Ayia Napa Underwater Sculpture Museum – in pictures

  • Cypriot freediver Angels Savvas swims through the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa (Musan), billed as the world’s first underwater forest, consisting of a collection of 130 submarine figurative sculptures set in a series of sculpted organic trees and subterranean plants, in the Ayia Napa resort town on the southeastern coast of Cyprus. All Photos: AFP
    Cypriot freediver Angels Savvas swims through the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa (Musan), billed as the world’s first underwater forest, consisting of a collection of 130 submarine figurative sculptures set in a series of sculpted organic trees and subterranean plants, in the Ayia Napa resort town on the southeastern coast of Cyprus. All Photos: AFP
  • The Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa (Musan) is created by world-famous reef artist Jason deCaires Taylor
    The Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa (Musan) is created by world-famous reef artist Jason deCaires Taylor
  • Cypriot freediver Angels Savvas poses with a sculpture in the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa, billed as the world’s first underwater forest
    Cypriot freediver Angels Savvas poses with a sculpture in the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa, billed as the world’s first underwater forest
  • The Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa is a "symbol to enhance the story of Ayia Napa’s newly created Marine Protected Zone, whilst acknowledging the deforestation practices of the past," according to the museum's website
    The Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa is a "symbol to enhance the story of Ayia Napa’s newly created Marine Protected Zone, whilst acknowledging the deforestation practices of the past," according to the museum's website
  • The underwater sculptures use pH neutral cement to facilitate coral growth
    The underwater sculptures use pH neutral cement to facilitate coral growth
  • The underwater museum's "narrative questions if the next generation will reinterpret the symbiotic relationship between mankind and nature to provide a better balance in favour of nurturing fragile ecosystems, highlighting how positive human intervention in the oceans can shape a more sustainable and productive future," says the museum's website
    The underwater museum's "narrative questions if the next generation will reinterpret the symbiotic relationship between mankind and nature to provide a better balance in favour of nurturing fragile ecosystems, highlighting how positive human intervention in the oceans can shape a more sustainable and productive future," says the museum's website
  • The park rests across more than 167 metres of sand at a depth of up to 10 metres, off the coast of Cyprus
    The park rests across more than 167 metres of sand at a depth of up to 10 metres, off the coast of Cyprus
  • The underwater museum "repositions the visitor as the attraction and sea life as the observer, [and] the sculptural installation will entice visitors under the surface to explore the beauty of the sub-aquatic environment," according to the museum's website
    The underwater museum "repositions the visitor as the attraction and sea life as the observer, [and] the sculptural installation will entice visitors under the surface to explore the beauty of the sub-aquatic environment," according to the museum's website
  • The configuration of the sculptures within the museum follows the topography of the seabed sitting within the open expanse of the sand situated south of Pernera Beach in Ayia Napa
    The configuration of the sculptures within the museum follows the topography of the seabed sitting within the open expanse of the sand situated south of Pernera Beach in Ayia Napa
  • A diver swims near a sculpture during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    A diver swims near a sculpture during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • A diver swims near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
    A diver swims near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
  • Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • A diver swims near a sculpture during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    A diver swims near a sculpture during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • A view of sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    A view of sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • A view of sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    A view of sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
  • Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.
    Divers swim near sculptures during the inauguration of the underwater museum in Ayia Napa.