Underwater Museum of Art
Named in 2018 by TIME Magazine as one of 100 “World’s Greatest Places” and recipient of the 2023 CODA Award for Collaboration of the Year, the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) was created through a partnership between the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) and the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA). The cornerstone of the CAA’s Art In Public Spaces Program, the UMA is the first permanent underwater sculpture garden in the nation. Located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park, the museum serves as both an artistic experience and a thriving marine habitat seamlessly merging the two.
A Cross-Sector Collaboration for Art and Conservation
The UMA exemplifies the power of cross-sector partnerships, combining the creative forces of artists with the environmental mission of SWARA. By deploying sculptures designed to foster marine life, this initiative not only enriches the cultural landscape but also supports ecological sustainability. The UMA provides an ever changing underwater gallery that divers can explore while contributing to critical reef systems.
Currently, Gulf coastal waters off Walton County are 95% barren sand flats. Deployment of sculpture as artificial reefs provides a source of biological replenishment and protective marine habitat where none exists. The UMA is deployed with SWARA’s existing USACOA and FDEP permitted artificial reef project that includes nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore in 60-feet of water. A one-acre permit patch of seabed off Grayton Beach State Park has been dedicated to the CAA for the purpose of a permanent underwater sculpture exhibit.
Annual Installations and New Developments
Each year since 2018, new sculptures have been added to the UMA, contributing to its growth as an underwater artistic and environmental landmark. In 2025, the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation collaborated with the UMA to create a sculpture symbolizing hope and healing for those affected by cancer. The newest designs for the next installation have been revealed, reflecting a diverse range of artistic interpretations that will soon become part of this living underwater exhibit. The seventh deployment planned for Summer 2025 will bring the total number of art works deployed to 53.
Experience the UMA
The UMA is located at a depth of approximately 60 feet, accessible to certified divers comfortable in open water. Each sculpture is carefully designed to encourage marine growth, transforming into a living reef over time. Visitors can witness the fusion of human creativity and natural regeneration as marine life takes residence in these artistic structures.
Join the Movement
Through initiatives like the UMA, the CAA continues to explore innovative ways to integrate the arts with environmental stewardship. If you are an artist, conservationist, or advocate for creative collaborations, we invite you to get involved and support this groundbreaking project.
Learn more about the UMA and see all of the sculpture exhibits at UMAFL.org.
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