Perched atop the Kodiak Queen, a former WW2-era Navy fuel barge, this 80-foot ‘Kraken’ now serves as the base of an artificial reef and marine research station on the ocean floor near the British Virgin Islands. The project, entitled BVI Art Reef, accomplishes a range of goals all at once: saving a decorated ship from destruction, transplanting coral to a new site in the hopes that it will flourish, creating an epic dive site and underwater art gallery, and providing a new habitat for marine life.

Photographer Owen Buggy documented the process, from the early stages of building the massive sea monster to sinking it in April 2017 to checking out the results a few months later. Sunken off the coast of the island Virgin Gorda with the help of tugboats and helicopters, the installation is already helping to rehabilitate heavily over-fished marine populations. Filmmaker Rob Sorrenti also got some great footage, presented as a documentary entitled ‘The Kodiak Queen,’ which is due for release in early 2018.

“This is the story of learning from past lessons and coming together to create something greater; rooted in joy and fueled by the power of play,” reads the BVI website. “This is the story of a group of friends from around the world who fell in love with the BVIs… and turned a weapon of war into a platform for unity – and a catalyst for new growth. This charitable kick-off in the British Virgin Islands combine art, ocean conservation, world history, marine science and economy… to solve a series of challenges in the BVIs by asking: how can we use play and collaboration to install permanent solutions that boost the local economy, secure the prosperity of these pristine islands for generations to come?”

“Our solution: a fantasy art eco-dive and ocean conservation site that puts the BVIs on the map as having one of the most unique and meaningful dive sites in the world… and one of the most forward-thinking approaches to creative problem solving that secures the education of its youth, and the health and prosperity of this island nation.”

Get updates on the project at the BVI Art Reef Facebook page.

Sculptures decorate landscapes, museums, and buildings, but water covers the majority of the Earth’s surface thus making it the world’s largest art gallery. The ocean is filled with mystery and an underwater sculpture park only heightens the intricate secrets hiding beneath the depths. Artificial reefs disguised as sculptures appear different each moment to a diver’s view as sand shifts along the ocean floor, sunlight penetrates at different depths and angles, and turbulent water currents combine in a kaleidoscope effect to delight the senses. Here are 79 unique and awesome underwater sculptures, environmental art, to encourage the natural ecological process.

Vicissitudes

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Like characters that step off the page of a good book, Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures literally come to life. In Grenada, West Indies, 26 life-sized figures await divers to view them in their underwater playground. The Vicissitudes were cast from children with diverse ethnic backgrounds. These underwater kids stand united in a circle, holding hands. The Vicissitudes are both art and an enhancement the environment, inviting marine life to rebuild the reef.

Changes Over Time

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Over time, these artificial reefs attract coral growth which helps support a marine ecosystem. 40% of the coral reefs worldwide are already destroyed, increasing each day as a little more dies. One of the biggest benefits of artificial reefs is that they give natural reefs a chance to heal from the desecration by overfishing, ocean acidification, and mankind’s pollution. As the natural reefs repair and regenerate, these environmental art pieces transform, changing the shape of their environment, as well as changing the habitat for marine life.

Like Children Growing, Changing, Adapting

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

14 feet below the surface, the Vicissitudes seem to change, depending upon light and weather conditions, while their cement finish and chemical composition actively encourage the establishment of coral and marine life. The figures are in the shape of children not by mere chance, but because children are highly adaptable and naturally progress, shaped by their environment and social interaction. Children are the hope of the future, and may create a sustainable and well-managed environment for their future generations.

Development of Marine Ecosystems

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

The creator of the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Taylor’s first artistic environmental masterpiece was ripped to shreds by a hurricane. His works include more than 65 underwater sculptures that are spread around the world in various areas. A new project near Cancun will have more than 400 new sculptures. These artificial reefs will provide an ideal habitat for filter feeding organisms, promoting the new growth and repair of a marine ecosystem.

The Fall From Grace

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Underwater sculptures create a unique visual seascape which encourage the natural ecological process. Found a little over 21 feet below the surface, The Fall From Grace is a life-sized statue of a man on a bicycle. This sculpture is in the clear, shallow waters of West Indies, making it a delight for divers and snorkellers to behold. The bottom picture was taken after 8 months in the tropical waters of Grenada and nature has already started tweaking the artificial reef.

Water Nymphs Lie Naked In Their Beds

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Alluvia consists of two female figures that were cast in cement and recycled glass resin. The top left and right pictures depict Alluvia which awaits at a depth of 3-6 feet in the Stour River of Canterbury, UK. These underwater sculptures lie along the river flow, submerged and fixed to the riverbed. In somewhat of the same theme of men and woman resting on the sea bed, the middle and bottom pictures are of Grace Reef. These statues can be found at a depth of 12 feet in Grenada, where the differing currents sometimes hide the collection of statues. At other times, Grace Reef figures are fully visible.

The Lost Correspondent

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

The Lost Correspondent portrays a man sitting at a desk with his typewriter. A collection of newspaper articles, dating back to the 1970s, covers the desktop. Some of these news stories report a time in Grenada’s history before the revolution. As this artificial reef changes with time, the man with his typewriter morph into a coral reef.

Time Blends Artistic Beauty With Underwater Life

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

The sculpture waterpark figures weigh as much as 15 tons, but their destruction is a part of the point to these statues. As the pieces interact with their underwater environment, the art grows both more interesting and more complex. Slowly, the underwater children evolve from unique art designs to functioning and well-adapted members of a living underwater society.

The Evolution

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

In a underwater playground, the Vicissitudes continue to adapt. The children change and grow, they evolve, into more of functioning unit in a marine society. These artistic works mature from one style of beauty and color to another.

TamCC Project

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

The TamCC project consists of 18 heads placed at a depth of 6 feet depth in Grenada. This artificial reef gives the natural reefs time to recuperate and rejuvenate. The images display the radical changes over time, from clearly defined and designed faces to almost unrecognizable sculptures swallowed up by the growing reef. In the bottom right picture, the face from Grace Reef has decayed and yet blossomed with color and life only 14 months after placement.

Sienna

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

About 12 1/2 feet down, in the crystal blue waters of the West Indies, Sienna waits. She was inspired by a character from Jacob Ross’ short story. Sienna is a young girl with a gift in free diving. The story tells of friendship and betrayal as her talent is manipulated during the search for lost treasure. Sienna’s metal sculpture permits water currents to flow through her body. As marine life and an ecosystem mature, her body will fill in.

Alluvia and Grace Reef

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Two female figures, Alluvia can be seen in the clear river from the Westgate Bridge and its adjoining gardens during good weather. At night the sculptures are internally illuminated. Grace Reef, top right and bottom row, is a series of sixteen female figures. They were cast from the bodies of Grenadian women. Grace Reef is visible at times in the clear warm waters. At other times, the sculptures are hidden beneath sand in the the stormy ocean.  A hurricane wreaked destruction upon the sculptures.

The Un-Still Life

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Over 25 feet below the surface, art imitates life. This piece called Un-Still Life is a traditional table setting in Grenada. The concrete table, vase, bowl and fruit show the marking of time as coral colonizes the objects. Un-Still Life is a classical study of life mixing with art, reminding us that change is inevitable and can be for the better.

Vicissitudes And Inverted Solitude

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

It’s smart art, whether in Grenada or Chepstow, UK. Some of these are more photos of the Vicissitudes growing from artificial reef art to living works of art. The Inverted Solitude, however, is a figure of a man suspended upside down in the UK. The floating platform is at The National Diving and Activities Center in Chepstow. This site was once a stone quarry and is the deepest inland body of water in England, reaching 262 feet deep. The pontoon that holds the Inverted Solitude sculpture is used for national free diving competitions and training.

From La Diablesse to Fish and Chips

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Like a mythical siren of old, one sculpture sits alone in the depths off Grenada. She is La Diablesse, meaning She-Devil. She is a bewitching character from Grenadian literature. Her face is corpse-like and half-hidden under a wide brimmed hat. La Diablesse wears a white blouse and a petticoat down to her feet, but time and underwater environment have stripped them from her body. Her left foot is cloven and is supposed to warn of her approach. Woman hate La Diablesse as the watery witch is known for enchanting men before leading them to a violent death.

Environmentally Wise and Aesthetically Pleasing

(image credits:Jason de Caires Taylor)

Only about 15% of the seabed is solid enough to permit reefs to form naturally. The artificial reefs are created from environmentally sensitive and secure materials. These reefs have been successful as both works of art and working to attracted coral growth that supports an entire marine ecosystem.

See More About Jason de Caires Taylor’s Environmental Art

Artificial Reefs, build it and marine life will come. This video gives more information on Jason de Caires Taylor and his underwater, environmental masterpieces.