North Queensland Found a Surprising Way to Make Museums Interesting … by Sticking one Underwater in The Great Barrier Reef!
Stage One of the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is officially opened on the Great Barrier Reef with tours to the John Brewer Reef Coral Greenhouse now available.
MOUA is Good to Go!
MOUA Deputy Chair Dr Adam Smith said the Coral Greenhouse is the only one of its kind in the world, situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
Here’s a peek into what it looks like!
Credit: Matt Curnock
Artist Jason deCaires, the North Queensland Community and the MOUA Board brought this project to life over four years, merging reef conservation research and science with tourism, the arts and Indigenous storytelling.
”We want people across the world to be inspired by MOUA,” said Dr Smith.
Member for Townsville Scott Steward said the Palaszczuk Government had provided $3 million to fund the MOUA, recognizing the value of the project for North Quensland.
A further two stages are planned for next year and its expected that MOUA will attract an additional 50,000 visitors annually upon completion, providing a significant economic boost to the region.
Global leader in underwater sculptures Jason de Caires Taylor said while he is disappointed he can’t be in Townsville due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s exciting to see his artworks begin to take on a life of their own.
“As the Coral Greenhouse is slowly colonized and built upon by the reef, it will be gradually absorbed into its surroundings. We’re looking forward to the planting of corals in the Coral Greenhouse as permitting allows to truly fulfil the purpose of the artwork,” Mr deCaires Taylor said.
“What happens in the sea affects us all directly and affects our livelihoods, along with the future of our species. I believe one of the best ways to inspire people is to show them how incredible the ocean and Greater Barrier Reef is and how important it is to continue to conserve it.”
Townsville Enterprise Director Visitor Economy and Marketing Lisa Woolfe describes MOUA as a game-changer for Townsville.
”Townsville is positioned in the central section of the Great Barrier Reef with arguably some of the best examples of coral reef available for visitors to enjoy and we’re excited that we can now jointly offer this experience with something so unique and awe-inspiring as the MOUA,” Ms Woolfe Said.
Paul Crocombe of Adrenalin Dive is excited by the opportunity to finally take visitors out to the stunning John Brewer Reef to experience the Coral Greenhouse.
“The MOUA is really going to take our tour offering of the Great Barrier Reef to a whole new level. The Museum gives people even more reasons to visit the reef and gives us the opportunity to show them how beautiful it still is and learn how to protect it for future generations,” Mr Crocombe said.
Stage One of the MOUA has been made possible through a Queensland Government grant. Stage Two on Palm Island and Stage Three on Magnetic Island are expected to be complete in 2021.
Bookings to the Coral Greenhouse can be made at www.moua.com.au
Information on Learning to Dive With PADI
For more information or to find your closest PADI dive centre, head to the PADI website. Each dive centre sets its own price and it varies significantly across destinations. Resorts dive centres in sought after areas will obviously be a lot more expensive.
Did you know that kids as young as 8 years old can begin learning to scuba dive? How cool is that!
Kids aged 8 – 10 years can opt for the Bubblemaker and Seal Team experiences. PADI Bubblemaker is a one day program in a pool or confined water with a maximum depth of two metres.
PADI Seal Team is a more extensive pool program for kids 8 and older that covers basic scuba diving skills in addition to fun activities such as taking underwater photos, practising buoyancy and learning environmental awareness.
Kids aged 10 years and over can enrol in the Junior Open Water Diver Course, which can be completed with the parents’ Open Water Diver course. Once junior divers reach 15 years, they can upgrade their junior card to a PADI Open Water Diver certification card.