Cyprus – A Closer Look, Part 3: Musan

Published 7 months agoon September 19, 2025

Continuing her journey through Cyprus’s underwater world, Jane Morgan visits Jason deCaires Taylor’s underwater sculpture forest in Ayia Napa…

“Museums are places of conservation, education, and about protecting something sacred. We need to assign those same values to our oceans.” Jason deCaires Taylor

After an unforgettable day diving the Zenobia wreck, I feared that day three might feel like an anticlimax. However, we were scheduled to dive MUSAN, Jason deCaires Taylor’s underwater museum in Ayia Napa. Over the years, I’ve seen countless photos of Jason’s work from projects around the world, spanning the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The galleries beautifully showcase the transformation of his sculptures from pristine forms to thriving reefs. Yet, despite all the images I’ve seen, I had never experienced his work firsthand, making this dive another dream on my bucket list come true.

Jason deCaires Taylor is an award-winning sculptor and environmentalist, renowned for submerging over 1,200 artworks in oceans and seas across the globe. His earliest work in Grenada has been named as one of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World. His installations draw attention to pressing issues such as the climate crisis, environmental activism, and the remarkable regenerative power of nature. More than just art, these sculptures serve as thriving habitats for marine life and offer a powerful reflection on humanity’s connection with the underwater world. I was absolutely thrilled to finally experience the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa (MUSAN) in person.

MUSEUM OF UNDERWATER SCULPURE AYIA NAPA (MUSAN)

MUSAN, unveiled on July 31st, 2021, is one of Jason deCaires Taylor’s latest installations, designed to transform a once-barren stretch of sand into a vibrant marine ecosystem. Upon arriving at Pernera Beach, visitors are welcomed by a striking land sculpture and the museum’s symbolic entrance marked by two child figures, Irineos and Calypso, representing the next generation’s commitment to protecting the sea.

Musan

The area is designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), with the museum serving as a space for education, conservation, and environmental awareness. The underwater entrance is just a short 200-meter swim from the beach, where at a depth of 8-10 meters, you’re immersed in a mesmerizing underwater forest. The collection boasts over 93 artworks, many of which are designed to mimic trees, encouraging marine life to take root. It’s already possible to see various plants and invertebrates beginning to flourish, making the museum an evolving sanctuary for both art and nature.

CYPRUS PAVILION

The forest is divided into four distinct zones, each with its own unique atmosphere. The first zone, known as the Cyprus Pavilion, is guarded by two gatekeepers: a hybrid male figure and a young boy. The boy, covering his eyes, counts as the children throughout the forest play a game of hide and seek. This initial zone is intentionally barren, designed to evoke the theme of deforestation and the loss of natural spaces. Amidst the trees, numerous cameras are hidden, serving as a reminder of the pervasive surveillance that surrounds us. These cameras are not only tools of control but also empower us to use social media to challenge and instigate change. The children use the cameras to hold individuals accountable for their actions, emphasizing the urgency of protecting the natural world.

FLOATING FOREST

In the second zone, visitors are immersed in a floating forest, where the theme of rejuvenation begins to take shape. The environment transforms with the help of the younger generation, as children curl up in the embrace of nature, dreaming of a brighter future. The vines, designed to resemble umbilical cords, symbolize our deep, intrinsic connection to the natural world, reminding us that our fate is intertwined with the planet’s well-being.

Musan

URCHIN FOREST

In the third zone, children and businessmen are engaged in a surreal game of hide and seek. The presence of the children serves as a powerful reminder that the natural world is meant to be explored as a space that sparks curiosity and imagination, which urbanisation has increasingly pushed out of reach. Here, the children reclaim that space. With cameras in hand, they turn their lenses on the adult world, holding the human race accountable and asserting control over their own futures.

FEATHER STAR FOREST

The Feather Star Forest marks the final zone of the museum: a vibrant, flourishing ecosystem. Its lush canopy invites exploration from both above and below, allowing divers to experience the forest from multiple perspectives. This closing zone is designed to leave visitors with a sense of hope highlighting the resilience of nature and inspiring a deeper awareness of our responsibility to protect our fragile oceans.

Musan

Book your next diving adventure in Cyprus with OysterDiving: https://oysterdiving.com

Thank you to Cyprus Diving Centre, Protaras: https://www.cyprus-divingcentre.com/en

Jane stayed at Opera Hotel, Larnaca: https://www.operahotelcyprus.com

Visit Cyprus: https://www.visitcyprus.com

Jane Morgan

Jane’s lifelong love for the ocean began in childhood and has shaped the course of her life and career. After learning to dive in 1991, she spent much of the '90s teaching scuba and working on marine conservation projects in the Philippines and Borneo. A chance encounter with a film camera on a dive trip to Egypt in 2001 ignited a passion for underwater photography, inspiring her to leave the corporate world and pursue a full-time career in dive travel and photojournalism. Since then, her work has been published in a wide range of national and international magazines, books, and newspapers. She has filmed underwater for the BBC, judged major photography competitions, and received numerous accolades—including the prestigious Plongeur d'Or at the Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-Marine. In 2009, Jane became a freelance photojournalist, and in 2011 completed a BA (Hons) in Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University, where she now works as a Dive Safety Officer. Based in Cornwall, Jane dives locally year-round and is passionate about showcasing the rich marine life found in UK waters. As a proud ambassador for Dynamic Nord and Fathoms Free, she actively supports marine conservation initiatives and advocates for ocean protection through her storytelling. In her newest role with Scubaverse, Jane combines her love of travel, diving, and storytelling—sharing experiences from around the world to inspire others to explore, protect, and connect with the underwater world.