Mexicans attempt to save reefs by distracting Americans

Look over here Americans, no, no, not there, over here.

Some call it a bait and switch, one of the oldest con games in the world — but in Cancun, it’s for a good cause: Saving the area’s natural reefs.

See, some 750,000 tourists head to the National Park West Coast of isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc, every year and for a while now, many of these tourists have been trampling on beautiful coral reefs. Like many Caribbean cities, some of the most beautiful places are below the water line.

And coral may look rugged,  but really it is extremely fragile and can weaken considerably when touched, stepped on and generally abused but unknowing tourists.

So instead of banning water frolicking, snorkling and scuba diving, Cancun has created a grand distraction: The world’s largest underwater museum.

The museum will feature roughly 400 sculptures created by renowed underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor — he’s renowned because he can hold his breath for up to the two weeks it takes to sculpt something under water. (Actually, the sculptures are created on dry land and then sunk after the fact)

The first piece was dropped on Nov. 14 and there will be 250 planted by April, according to Jamie Gonzalez Cano, the National Park’s director.

“The underwater museum will draw many visitors, allowing us to give a rest to the natural reefs. It’s like a restoration process”, Gonzalez explained.

Additionally, the museum will give people experience in the waters so when they do venture out to the reefs, they won’t damage them.