Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Garden Is More Than a Photo-op — It Tells the Nation's Story

"Submerged off Grenada, this pioneering underwater sculpture park—designed by Jason deCaires Taylor—features more than 75 pH‑neutral cement and stainless‑steel works across roughly 8,600 square feet of seabed, originally installed about 20 years ago to help regenerate coral after Hurricane Ivan. Sitting five to eight feet below the surface and accessible to divers, snorkelers, and glass‑bottom boats, the installations blend environmental purpose with cultural storytelling: the Nutmeg Princess depicts the island’s mythical heroine holding a nutmeg; The Lost Correspondent evokes 1970s newsroom life and the lead‑up to the 1979 revolution; and Vicissitudes is a haunting ring of children joined by shackle‑like metal that simultaneously symbolizes unity and memorializes those lost in the Middle Passage. In the most recent expansion, 27 painted pieces called The Coral Carnival—created with local artists—depict SpiceMas characters such as Jab Jab, Shortknee, and Vieux Forts, bringing colorful, jeweled, and feathered masquerade imagery underwater. Sunlight filtering through crystal‑clear water, the continual colonization by coral and marine life (from anemones to octopus and darting fish), and the site’s Marine Protected classification make the collection both a living reef restoration project and a moving tribute to Grenada’s history, resilience, and Carnival traditions." - Natalie Preddie Natalie Preddie Natalie Preddie is a travel writer and broadcaster based in Toronto, Ontario. She is the mother of three little boys and focuses on family and BIPOC travel. Natalie has bylines in The Globe and Mail, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines