A Hidden World Awaits Beneath

Coral and contemporary art converge at Townsville’s underwater sculptures.

Who knew that to see some of the world’s most beautiful art, you could head not to a stuffy art gallery, but into the Coral Sea with your snorkel in hand?

Around the shores of North Queensland hide underwater installations crafted by sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Together, they form the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA).

With many sites just a hop from Townsville, underwater art tours offer a perfect chance to swim, relax, and uncover hidden gems otherwise frequented by parrotfish and sea turtles.

Trails can begin on dry land, taking in Townsville’s Ocean Siren, an illuminated figure rising four metres above the ocean before Strand promenade.

The statue depicts Takoda Johnson, a young Indigenous girl from the Wulgurukaba people, and aims to draw attention to the impact of rising sea temperatures on the reef.

The work shows Takoda holding a Bayliss shell – a traditional Indigenous communication device – and looking over Magnetic Island and the expanse of the Great Barrier Reef.

Fabricated from stainless steel and translucent acrylic, the structure contains a grid of LED lights that change colour in response to live water temperature data collected at Davies Reef by the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Each evening, the shifting colours reflect the day’s recorded sea temperatures, presenting scientific data in a way that can’t be ignored.

By translating reef science into a real-time urban installation, Ocean Siren offers visitors a striking but straightforward reminder of the challenges facing coral ecosystems, as well as standing as a beautiful, hopeful sentinel over the shoreline.

Just a short boat journey away stands the Coral Greenhouse, the centrepiece of the MOUA. Located in Sea Country, the structure rises 12 metres from the ocean floor and weighs 58 tonnes — earning a Guinness World Record as the world’s largest underwater art structure.

Part architectural installation, part living reef project, Coral Greenhouse creates a space that is both visually striking and ecologically purposeful.

Inside, figurative sculptures modelled on local schoolchildren reflect themes of stewardship and hope for future generations. Coral planter boxes, underwater gardens and suspended forms inspired by native tree species complete the installation.

“The design of The Coral Greenhouse is biomorphic, and its form was determined by the forces of nature.” Artist Jason deCaires Taylor explains.

“As the sculptures are slowly colonised and built upon by the reef, they will be gradually absorbed into their surroundings, illustrating an organic architectural philosophy that centres on the unification and connection of designs to their surroundings.”

Built from pH-neutral cement and corrosion-resistant steel, the biomorphic structures are engineered to endure marine conditions while encouraging coral growth. Textured, porous surfaces provide habitat for fish and invertebrates.

Scuba divers, too, can get up close with the living art, whilst snorkellers can get a bird's-eye view of the world hidden beneath the surface. Then, just a short swim away, the Ocean Sentinels await.

Located just five metres below the surface at John Brewer Reef, each sculpture represents a prominent marine scientist or conservationist, including youth and indigenous leadership, recognising their contributions to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

Constructed from sustainable, marine-grade concrete with a low centre of gravity, the sculptures are engineered to withstand strong ocean currents.

By combining Indigenous perspectives, marine research and public art, the installation offers an accessible introduction to reef ecology — and a reminder of the science and stewardship supporting one of the world’s most significant natural systems.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and watch as culture and nature intertwine.

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