“21 Underwater Sculptures to Boost Tourism in Quintana Roo!”

Nautical enthusiasts from Quintana Roo are planning to sink 21 underwater sculptures off the coast of the El Meco area at the end of May. This initiative aims to boost local tourism and provide a respite for the area's natural reefs.

The sculptures, which are being transported from Mexico City, were donated with the intention of creating an underwater attraction. Francisco Fernández Millán, president of the Nautical Associates of Quintana Roo, explained that the sculptures will be fitted with coral inserts to aid in reef restoration.

This project is a collaboration with an ecological center in Mexico City, and takes advantage of a permit granted by the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas for artificial reefs. The funding for the project comes entirely from private investments, with three trailers transporting the sculptures from Mexico City to Cancun.

The goal of the project is to alleviate pressure on the natural reefs, with the hope of seeing benefits in the next 10 to 15 years. After the sculptures are submerged, the group plans to sink ships and small planes in the Isla Mujeres area to create another underwater attraction. This would provide an alternative fishing area for local fishermen who currently fish near the reefs.

The project, funded by the Nautical Associates, is separate from the MUSA initiative, which originally started the trend of sinking sculptures. Once the sculptures are submerged, the group will begin promoting the new attraction to draw in more visitors who enjoy nautical activities and are interested in environmental conservation.