For The Diving Art Connoisseur

For the culture vulture who also likes to snorkel or scuba dive, Grenada offers a unique opportunity to indulge both passions at the same time. The works of Jason de Caires Taylor, a British artist, the collection is scattered around Molinere Bay at relatively shallow depths of two to eight meters allowing both snorkelers and scuba aficionados to get a good look at the life size statues of humans and other objects. Along the way you’ll see myriad colorful reef life and might even find yourself in the middle of school of Caribbean reef squid like I did.

A great way to access the site is from the PADI 5 Star certified Dive Grenada, located close to Molinere Bay and offering both snorkeling and scuba at reasonable rates. Run by Phil Saye, a former Royal Navy diver and his wife Helen (a medical doctor in her spare time) dives are fun, well organized and safe.

Helen led our dive and I chose to snorkel (I’m scuba certified but suffer from middle ear problems) while the other two in our party scuba dived. Roaring off in a high powered motor launch we soon reached Molinere. I dove into the warm water and paddled off enjoying the warm and buoyant Caribbean salt water. My first encounter was with a work called Vicissitudes, a circle of life-size sculptures of Grenadian children, holding hands in 5m of water. Adjacent was a park bench in case viewers wanted to rest while having a look.

Further along I happened upon another sculpture to which, as a journalist, I could really relate. The Lost Correspondent features a man slumped over a paper covered desk, staring at a typewriter. Could it be writer’s block?

I noticed the sculptures were placed on leads of sand between the actual reefs to avoid damaging the coral, so that the mooring buoys for the dive and snorkel boats provided good indicators as to where to look for the art works.

Next, in about 4m of water I came across the graceful and unclothed forms of sixteen women in various poses in the sand. Appropriately called Grace Reef, the figures may be partially or completely buried in sand depending on the currents.

Other sculptures include The Un-Still Life, a table covered in various mundane cement objects which are constantly changing due to the effects of reef life forms and currents. Indeed the whole gallery is really an organic and changing whole, gradually integrating itself into the reef system in which it is established.

Though damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the reef appears to be recovering and many species of underwater life including hawksbill turtles, seahorses, French angelfish, four-eyed butterfly fish, Creole wrasse, rock beauty and moray eels team in the waters of Molinere Bay.

More serious divers looking for a “near-Titanic” experience, shouldn’t miss the Bianca C a huge Italian luxury liner which went down off St. George’s in the 1960’s, which Phil and Helen will happily arrange.

For Further Information:

http://www.divegrenada.com/index.htm
http://www.grenadagrenadines.com/

Photo Credits

Dave and Helen – George Burden, All Rights Reserved

All Other Images By Dive Grenada, All Rights Reserved

Recent Dr. George Burden Articles:

• Grand Prix Weekend in Monte Carlo
• Inside the Big Bang? Literally!
• How The Real Doctor Frankenstein Cured Lead Poisoning
• The Day The Sun Blacked Out
• Hot Times In Varadero At The Sol Caribe Beach Hotel