The Punta Leona Hotel inaugurated the initial stage of the first underwater museum in the country and Central America. This is happening as part of the rocky reef conservation project that began in 2020 with the placement of 30 "reefballs" or bell-type structures.
The reefballs are located just 50 meters from the coast, in front of the terraces of Playa Blanca, at a depth of 2 meters at low tide and about 5 at high tide. They are the first three sculptures that can be explored by divers and snorkeling enthusiasts.
We know that Costa Rica is a marine country. With 51,030 square kilometers of land area and 572, 877 square meters of sea surface, that is, a ratio of 10% land and 90% water. However, for years we have dedicated ourselves to reforesting and taking care of the land, which is fine, but it is time to turn our attention to the ocean.
For two years we have been working on the conservation of our seas. We believed that combining art with marine regeneration would be a striking combination for creating awareness about the beauty of our marine environment and why it needs to be protected.
Initially we made three figures: a Cacique Garabito, a Lora turtle and a manta ray. Each of the sculptures weighs more than a ton and measures approximately 3 meters in length. A Garabito Indigenous was chosen because he is one of the most important historical and cultural figures of the canton, so much so, that the canton bears his name. As for the turtle and the manta ray, they are very characteristic fauna of the area.
This unique project not only functions as a novel diving experience, but also creates a new habitat for life under the sea.
The sculptor Fabio Brenes Morales, a resident of Orotina, was the artist in charge of the project. Don Fabio usually creates his work in wood and stone, using figurative elements of nature, so when Hotel Punta Leona contacted him for this project, he knew he had to get involved.
With more than 30 years of experience, this sculptor, Fabio Brenes Morales, originally from Capellades de Cartago, has shown his talent worldwide in countries such as France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico and Panama.
The workforce involved 100% students from James Madison University in the United States, who annually visit Punta Leona to develop a particular project.
"The underwater museum is a unique project in Costa Rica and Central America. While, at this moment it consists of only 3 pieces, the goal is to reach about 20. In short, it is a very visual, regenerative and above all living experience, because art interacts with nature and together they will evolve over time.
“We want the underwater museum to be accessible to all and we are sure that it will bring the public closer to the marine environment and to the conservation and protection of this habitat," said César Vargas, Manager of Corporate Relations and director of this initiative.