Underwater Museum Installed off Grayton Beach Becomes a Living Gallery

Earning national headlines from CNN and National Geographic, the first Underwater Museum of Art in U.S. was installed off Grayton Beach two years ago. Accessible to SCUBA divers, the museum rests on the seafloor about 55-feet below the surface of the water. The permanent installation includes seven sculptures created by popular Southeast artists, including:   

“The Grayt Pineapple,” by Rachel Herring,  
“Self Portrait” A stainless steel statue of a deer by Justin Gaffrey 
“SWARA Skull,” by Vince Tatum 
Concrete Rope Reef Spheres, by Evelyn Tickle
“Propeller in Motion” by Marek Anthony 
“Anamorphous Octopus” by Allison Wickey 
“JYC’s Dream,” a collaborative work by Kevin Reilly and the South Walton Montessori Academy students and teachers 
  
Each piece of art also doubles as an artificial reef, providing a source of biological replenishment for the barren sand flats as well as a fun attraction cultural attraction for visitors to Northwest Florida. After two years, these submerged works of art have become a living museum to many marine species. Local marine expert Joe Moore of 30A Sea Lab Discovery Center, is a great local resource being able to identify the species that have found a new home within this creative marine habitat. The 30A Sea Life Discover Center is a local non-profit that connects kids with the local marine environment through lab classes and field trips.

For those who wish to SCUBA dive the reef, local boat captains offer chartered services during the season. (Fish Booty Charters is one of the charters with stops at the underwater museum, 850-586-0807, www.fishybooty.com). Divers must bring their own gear, snacks and drinks. 

The Underwater Museum of Art is a joint project made possible by the Cultural Arts Alliance and the South Walton Artificial Reef Association along with Visit South Walton. 

When you're ready to start planning a beach vacation for summer or fall, you'll want to include the Underwater Museum on your "must see" list.  To start planning, view Newman-Dailey’s premier vacation rentals online, and learn more about Sanctuary at Redfish, luxury condominiums overlooking Big Redfish coastal dune liake near Grayton Beach State Park. Have questions? Call one of our friendly vacation specialists at 1-800-225-7652 to assist you with your future vacation planning.  

See you @ the beach!  

photo credit: 30A.com 

Published on Tuesday, July 24, 2018