Visit the first ever underwater museum in Florida

If you were looking for interesting places in Florida to visit this summer, you should try the first ever underwater museum in the U.S.

There are different kinds of museums. Some people may see certain museums quite boring, while others may get excited at seeing a painting by one of the world’s most famous artists of all times, such as Picasso, Van Gogh or others. There’s no accounting for taste.

However, if you’re a more adventurous type of person and are looking for a genuine experience, you should know that the first ever underwater museum in the United States of America has recently opened and can now be visited by tourists.

The location of this fascinating museum is Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico. Here, visitors have to dive down about 58 feet (approx. 17,6 meters) in order to explore the underwater gallery that has been specifically designed to emphasize the local sea life and promote it.

It is located off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park (at a distance of approx. .7-miles from the shore) and is the result of a successful collaboration between the South Walton Artificial Reef Association and the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.

Most of the pieces exposed in this museum were designed with two main purposes in mind: as eye-catching and interesting art pieces and as objects that can turn into marine habitats.

According to the officials, about 90 percent of the Gulf of Mexico is nothing but a “barren sand flat” and this kind of environment is not hospitable to a great part of the marine life. Thus, this underwater museum may increase sea life population in the region.

The sculptures will act as some sort of man-made reefs, which may provide some anchor points for various aquatic animals, plants and even coral. At this moment, the museum comprises 7 sculptures by various artists, such as “SWARA Skull” by Vince Tatum, “Anamorphous Octopus” by Allison Wickey and “The Grayt Pineapple” by Rachel Herring. more sculptures are to be added annually.

“The perspective when viewing the sculptures in a marine environment is drastically different than when on land,” Andy McAlexander, SWARA board president, said in an interview. “The intent of the project was proven within an hour of deployment when we could see schools of bait fish swarming the structures, completely validating the entire effort. I have never been prouder to have had the privilege to work with such talented and visionary people in my life. This project has changed my perspective towards art.”

Worth mentioning is that you can visit the Underwater Museum of Art for free. However, there is a fee you will have to pay when entering Grayton Beach State. Also, in order to be able to visit this museum, you will need a certification in scuba.