"...And He saw that the water was good."

Coral structures such as this one are common as is

        the presence of numerous fish flocking the area

        in search of food. The colors as spectacular

        even on a day when the water is cloudy.

        (Source: Google Images)

 Having visited other islands, I can objectively say that Grenada has an underwater wildlife that is difficult to rival.

Beneath the surface is an Avatar-like world where butterfly-fish will surround you if you are still enough, sea ants are not afraid to bite and schools of green barracuda are always casually swimming by.

My favorite sight, is that of bright red lobsters strolling along the ocean floor and whipping fan-like red tails about with sass. It makes me wonder why the Little Mermaid ever wanted to leave this vastly wonderful kingdom.

Our fringing reefs, home to these beautiful creatures, have been around for centuries, some taking as many as 25 years to grow 1 centimeter of coral.

     This underwater statue is one of the earliest
ones erected and is part of "Vicissitudes."
 Covering the concrete frame is more than 
one year's worth of coral growth.

            (Source: Google Images)

Without any particular structure, these corals grow in a vast variety of shapes, conforming to nothing but nature's unique design. The different species also create a diversity of colors similar to what one would find in an above-ground botanical garden.

But on the island's west coast, Grenada holds a high place as being one of two places worldwide (Cancun, Mexico is the next such location) that has underwater sculptures.

Dozens of concrete sculptures span approximately 800 meters on the ocean floor and aim not only to beautify the environment, but to protect the ecosystem from further decimation via hurricanes and violent waves.

These sculptures reflect images of unity, humanity, humor, or just everyday life. If you aren't observant, after snorkeling for a while one of these figures can surely sneak up on you and you would find yourself staring into the eyes of a sunken statue!

The statue I love the most is "Christ of the Deep."
    Grenada also has the same statue above aground
in a coastal setting and it captivates me
with its passion every time I see it.
(Source: Google Images)

They are specially designed to encourage the growth of coral on them and so, after a few months, a plain white sculpture is transformed into something that is scary and strange, but magnificent.

Among sculptures are “Vicissitudes” featuring a circle of people holding hands and facing outward, “The Lost Correspondent” which is a man at a typewriter and “The Silent Evolution” featuring 400 life-sized statues of people frozen in different poses and stages of life.

     This sculpture is so ingrained in the natural
environment that it is easy to dive right past
it without noticing it. In essence, this is how
we must always be with nature: existing in its
  midst but making little to no impact on, except
to encourage its growth.
(Source: Google Images)

There is something powerful about seeing mankind stand still and observe nature, as the statues seem to do. It contrasts the reality of life on land where there is a constant competition between nature and humans as each almost seeks to dominate the other. 

In a very real way, the underwater sculptures present a picture of a utopia, where there is harmony and where each side of the spectrum supports the other.

These statues aren't just awe-inspiring. They are also powerful reminders of how conscious we should be of our environment. They aren't just something for us to enjoy, Grenada's underwater sculptures are something that we should live by, and I learned this on my very first dive.