MUSA, Isla Mujeres - all you need to know

MUSA, or the Museo Subacuático de Arte, is an underwater museum comprising more than 500 sculptures situated on the seabedat a depth of 8–10 metres between Cancún and Isla Mujeres.

Don’t expect a traditional building or an attraction accessible from the beach.

You can only reach the sculptures by boat as part of an organised snorkelling or diving trip.

We recommend MUSA particularly to divers. When snorkelling, the sculptures remain quite deep below you, so it’s best to choose a trip combining the museum with the natural reefs of Manchones and El Farito.

Book a trip to MUSA

What you’ll see underwater

The most famous work is *The Silent Evolution* by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. The installation consists of hundreds of life-size figures, which are gradually being covered by corals, seaweed and other marine organisms.

Other well-known works include:

a Volkswagen Beetle car called ‘Anthropocene’
the sculpture *Man on Fire*
*The Dream Collector*
*The Banker*
several underwater houses known as Urban Reef

The sculptures are made from materials suitable for coral growth. The museum thus functions as an artificial reef whilst simultaneously diverting some visitors away from overburdened natural coral reefs.

MUSA is not confined to a single location

The underwater museum is divided into several galleries. When booking, please check which one you will actually be visiting.

Galleries	Location	Depth	Number of sculptures	Best way to visit
Manchones	Near Isla Mujeres	8 to 10 metres	473	Diving
Punta Nizuc	Off the Cancún hotel zone	2 to 4 metres	33	Snorkelling or glass-bottomed boat
Punta Sam	North of Cancún	3.5 metres	9	Snorkelling

For visitors to Isla Mujeres, the Manchones Gallery is the main attraction. It is here that you’ll find the largest concentration of sculptures and the famous installation, The Silent Evolution.

If you can’t swim or don’t want to go in the water, opt for a glass-bottomed boat trip at Punta Nizuc.

However, these trips depart from Cancún and you won’t get to see the main Manchones Gallery on them.

Snorkelling or diving?

Snorkelling

Snorkelling requires no prior experience or certification. However, a life jacket must be worn, so you cannot dive freely closer to the sculptures.

As the Manchones Gallery lies 8 to 10 metres below the surface, the individual details of the sculptures are not always clearly visible from the surface. The experience is significantly affected by visibility, waves and current sea conditions.

Don’t choose a trip focused solely on MUSA. You’ll get better value for money by combining it with the Manchones and El Farito reefs, where you’ll see corals and a greater variety of marine life.

A recommended trip includes:

MUSA
the natural Manchones reef
El Farito shallow reef
snorkelling equipment
guide and boat transport
marine park entry fees

Trips depart either directly from Isla Mujeres or from Cancún.

Usually 3.5 to 4.5 hours
Prices range from 70 usd 90 usd

Book MUSA, Manchones and El Farito

A cheaper trip to MUSA and the Manchones reef alone costs 50 usd. However, an additional 15 usd is payable on site for the harbour fee and marine park entry. The difference compared to the three-site trip is therefore only 5 usd.

Diving

MUSA is far more impressive when diving. You’ll find yourself right amongst the sculptures, see the details of each figure and watch as they are gradually covered by corals and other organisms.

Certified divers can take a two-dive trip from Isla Mujeres. The first dive takes place in the MUSA gallery and the second at the natural Manchones reef.

The official price of the trip is 157 usd and it lasts approximately 4 hours. Basic diving equipment is included, but a local fee for entry to the protected area may be payable separately.

Even complete beginners without certification can take part in the dives. The trip includes a theory session, a pool lesson and two dives with an instructor. The price from Cancún to Isla Mujeres is 189 usd and the whole programme lasts approximately 5 hours.

Book a dive with MUSA

How much does a visit to MUSA cost?

Option	Price	Duration	Our verdict
Snorkelling at 3 locations	70 usd	3.5 to 4.5 hours	The best option for casual visitors
Snorkelling at MUSA and Manchones	50 usd + fee	4 hours	Only worth it if the final price is lower
Certified diving	157 usd	4 hours	The best way to really see MUSA
Non-certified diving	189 usd	5 hours	An interesting first dive, but considerably more expensive
The glass-bottomed boat Punta Nizuc	58 usd	2 hours	For non-swimmers, departing from Cancún

Prices vary depending on the operator. Always check whether the quoted price includes the marine park fee, harbour fee and equipment.

How the snorkelling trip works

Most trips begin with check-in at the Zona Hotelera in Cancún or in the centre of Isla Mujeres. You’ll be given the exact meeting point once you’ve booked.

From the harbour, you’ll set off in a small motorboat towards the Manchones reef.

The four-hour trip itself does not mean four hours in the water. Part of the time is taken up by registration, preparing the equipment, the boat journey and travelling between the different sites.

The official MUSA trip allows for approximately 30 minutes of snorkelling among the sculptures and a further 30 minutes at the natural Manchones reef. Trips visiting three sites may offer more time in the water.

A life jacket is usually compulsory, even for experienced swimmers. Touching the sculptures, corals and marine life is prohibited.

Is MUSA worth a visit?

We recommend MUSA to divers. The unusual setting, hundreds of sculptures and the combination with the natural reef make for one of the most interesting diving trips around Isla Mujeres.

For snorkellers, MUSA isn’t a must-see attraction in its own right. The sculptures are deep underwater, and from the surface you won’t see as much detail as in the promotional photos taken by divers.

For snorkellers, a visit is particularly worthwhile as part of a trip to several sites. MUSA offers an unusual sight, whilst the Manchones and El Farito reefs usually provide more colourful corals and a greater variety of marine life.

We recommend MUSA if: