A WORLD FIRST
A SUBMERGED FOREST MUSEUM
Opened in August 2021, the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa, also known as MUSAN, is the world’s first submerged forest museum. Designed by world-renowned British eco-sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, it can be found just off the eastern coast of the island, near Pernera Beach, within the Famagusta district. The museum features up to 93 life-sized figurative and tree-like sculptures that are all submerged at a depth of up to 10 metres. Also doubling as a Marine Protected Area, it utilises pH-neutral materials that are designed to act as an artificial reef, which aims to attract marine life back to a previously barren sandy seabed.
KEY DETAILS
The Concept: A surreal, dreamlike pathway through a forest. The installations depict children playing, people taking photos, and massive 13-tonne hybrid trees with intricate root networks.
Ecological Innovation: Built entirely out of inert, pH-neutral concrete and high-grade marine stainless steel. The statues are specifically crafted to provide stable substrate anchoring points for coral, algae, and wild marine species.
The Entrances: The journey officially starts onshore at Pernera Beach with two land-based sculptures named Irineos and Calypso, who both act as symbolic guardians of the sea. The underwater gallery rests roughly 200 to 300 metres away from the shoreline.
VISITOR INFORMATION & PRACTICAL ADVICE
Accessibility: There is no entry fee to access the water, and snorkelers and free divers can access the museum directly by swimming out from Pernera Beach.Â
Entry Hazards: The shoreline entry point features slippery, uneven rocks. In light of this, it is advisable to use water shoes or fins at this point. Several floating rest platforms are stationed along the swim route.
Scuba Diving Rules: Scuba divers are strictly required to book excursions through a registered diving school. To ensure site safety and preservation, independent scuba diving without an approved local guide is not permitted. You can find local operators via the MUSAN DIVING DIRECTORY.
Equipment Rentals: If you choose to snorkel independently, equipment like masks, snorkels, and fins can be rented directly from the MUSAN Visitor Centre located nearby.
