IN a Great Barrier Reef first, The Whitsundays has unveiled a series of underwater sculptures.
The artworks include a Maori Wrasse at Blue Pearl Bay off Hayman Island, two different Manta Ray sculptures at Manta Ray Bay off Hook Island and a Turtle at Langford Spit.
Six Australian artists were chosen to have their sculptures submerged and on display in various key locations throughout the marine park with two more sculptures still to be revealed.
The next instalment will be an enormous creation called Anthozoa which is a four-metre-high concrete single coral polyp, to be installed at Blue Pearl Bay in late September.
And in another first, the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) - created by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is to be installed within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (near the coast of Townsville).
The works will be installed across numerous locations such as Magnetic Island and Palm Island, showcasing partially and fully submerged sculptures.
The first of several artworks - Ocean Siren, will be revealed this December at the Strand in Townsville and is modelled on a local Aboriginal girl that will change colour in response to changing water temperatures.
Furthermore, a Coral Greenhouse sculpture is planned for the John Brewer Reef site offering a world-class dive and snorkel experience.
And if you've ever wanted to get up close and personal with one of the seven wonders of the natural world - Cruise Whitsundays recently announced Australia's first underwater accommodation located on the Great Barrier Reef, ready for guests later this year.
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