Many visitors enjoy trips to the secluded cove of Horseshoe Bay without discovering the wonder that awaits beneath the waves.
Though famous for its golden sand and iconic horseshoe shape, the beach is also home to Bywa – an underwater sculpture visible to snorkellers swimming in the crystal-clear waters.
Crafted by artist Brian Robinson, Bywa is a 4-metre-high funnel-shaped aluminium waterspout sculpture that incorporates a multitude of smooth metallic sea creatures, all local to the area, including butterfly fish, coral trout, epaulette shark, mangrove jack, stingray, turtle, and wobbegong shark.
The creatures, selected by the Bowen community, wrap around the form catching the sunlight streaming through the water, glinting at snorkellers like the scales of the fish they represent.
With the waters teeming with tropical fish, it’s a chance to take in human-made art nestled within a dramatic scene of nature – a symbol of the deep interconnection between the sea and the people who live on its shores.
The sculptor, Brian Robinson, is a dynamic contemporary artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, printmaking, sculpture, design and public art. Raised on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Robinson draws deeply on his heritage, blending cultural mythology, personal memory and global art history into richly layered works that move fluidly between reality and fantasy. Robinson’s work often weaves together Indigenous cosmology, classical mythology and contemporary experimentation, reflecting both his cultural roots and his fascination with storytelling across civilisations.
The sculpture is part of the Ngaro underwater marine sculpture trail, with works of art to visit all around the Whitsundays.
This stop is a particular highlight for many – not just for Bywa, but also for the beauty of the beach, which entices snorkellers to stay for a while on the sand, put their feet up, and while away the day.
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