The Underwater Worlds of Jason deCaires Taylor

Rising quietly from the turquoise shallows, the Coralarium shimmers between sea and sky. Framed by the endless horizon of the Indian Ocean, this surreal semi-submerged gallery seems to hover at the edge of two worlds. Visible from afar and accessible by a short swim, it draws visitors into an otherworldly space where art and nature blend beneath the sea.

This installation is conceived by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, known for his art projects transforming seabeds into sculpture parks. It stands just off the shore of Sirru Fen Fushi, the only resort on the Maldives’ remote Shaviyani Atoll, aligned with the resort’s 200-meter infinity pool as if extending its stillness into the sea. The Coralarium feels like an underwater pathway, leading you from the familiar world above into a tidal space below. Sculptures rise from the sea floor, designed not only for beauty but to support marine life. Made from pH-neutral, non-toxic materials, the structures encourage coral growth and serve as an artificial reef. Over time, fish, crustaceans, and corals turn the sculptures into living ecosystems.

The Coralarium: Art Below the Tide Line

For Jason deCaires Taylor, the ocean is not just a backdrop. A sculptor, environmentalist, and underwater photographer, over the past two decades, he has created more than 1,200 submerged sculptures around the world, transforming ocean floors into hauntingly beautiful underwater museums. Taylor’s themes are rooted in the climate crisis and the fragile relationship between humans and the ocean. His sculptures often depict members of local communities, captured in quiet moments of reflection or connection with nature.

Each year, over half a million people explore Jason deCaires Taylor’s underwater museums scattered across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and North Seas. These submerged installations offer rare, close-up encounters with marine life. More than art, they are peaceful gateways to the quiet rhythms of the ocean, inviting us to see our blue planet from a new perspective—not from above, but from within.

Jason deCaires Taylor. The Coralarium. Courtesy of Sirru Fen Fushi

Sirru Fen Fushi: A Sanctuary by the Sea

Sirru Fen Fushi is one of the places where that vision comes to life. Here, time slows to the rhythm of the tide. Step onto soft, sun-warmed sands, where the lagoon stretches endlessly in shades of silver and sapphire.  The resort’s villas blend into their surroundings—beachfront and jungle hideaways built from natural textures, and overwater escapes that open directly onto the lagoon. At its heart lies an infinity pool, mirroring the horizon, flanked by a serene spa and a collection of restaurants where flavors range from Japanese precision to ocean-fresh seafood.

As the day unfolds, you might stretch into beachfront yoga, lose yourself in the island’s breezy art studio, or watch your children discover wonder in the creative Kids’ Club. Below the waves, snorkeling trails weave through a coral house reef alive with color and movement. Yet, this beauty is also under threat. The Maldives, one of the lowest-lying countries on Earth, faces rising sea levels, coral bleaching, and changing ocean conditions. These are not distant concerns; they are happening now. That’s what makes Jason deCaires Taylor’s work here so powerful. His underwater sculptures are living reminders of what we stand to lose. It’s a space to reflect on the delicate balance between nature and the human world. Before the tide turns too far.