Underwater photos courtesy of UMA by Spring Run Media; Other photos courtesy of UMA by We Create Lift
WATCH // EXPLORE // CRAVE
Underwater Art Less than a mile off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in Walton County, in the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, lies a magical underwater world only accessible by boat and with scuba gear. // B Y K A R I N F A B R Y- C U S H E N B E R Y
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or the ones who get to explore the Underwater Museum of Art, it’s a memorable, unique experience. The idea came about when Allison Wickey, an artist and avid diver, suggested an artificial reef at a Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County board meeting. “There are a lot of artificial reefs out there,” Allison says, “but I had this pie in the sky idea of creating an artificial reef out of artistic sculptures.” The group, with help from the South Walton Art Reef Association, took the idea and ran with it. A call to artists was sent out, and the juried selection process began. It’s the only museum of its kind in the 20
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country, and within a year the first installation was ready to be dropped. Then the second. The third is currently being designed and crafted. “In the first year seven or eight sculptures were chosen,” says Allison “The centerpiece is a gigantic skull, and the design is placed in concentric circles around that main sculpture.” Allison’s own design, an octopus cut out of metal, was also one of the original designs. A painter by trade, Allison stresses that you don’t have to be a seasoned sculptor, or even a sculptor at all, to have a sculpture considered for the museum. You just have to have an idea and a means to execute
it. After Hurricane Michael lifted and destroyed one of the metal statues, they are now all being created with at least 85 percent concrete for sustainability. The museum, which is 60 feet below the surface of the water, currently includes 17 sculptures, including a reindeer and a diamond ring, spaced out on the sea floor. And the museum’s intended purpose, to draw in fish and wildlife, has been successful. “There’s so much to see out there,” Allison says. “It really is beautiful the flora and fauna you can see. You may come across spotted eagle rays, tons of fish and beautifully colored plants like purple sea fans. It’s fun to explore the nooks and crannies.”
Certified divers can take their own boats out (the coordinates for the museum are below) or local companies out of Panama City and Destin offer boat tours to the museum. Allison says that soon tours will be able to launch from Grayton Beach. There is no charge to explore the museum on your own, but donations and sponsorships are always welcome and appreciated. “We want people to come out and experience the museum,” Allison says. “It’s easy to get there and explore, and I promise you’ve never seen anything like it before.” Underwater Museum of Art // N 30*18.754 W 086*09 33.72 // umafl.org