Nothing prepares you for the awe-inspiring sight of a colossal cathedral rising from the ocean floor, its sheer size and magnificent architecture defying belief beneath the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

However, this massive structure is not actually a cathedral but the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) located in Australia.

While scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, my jaw (figuratively) hit the sea floor when I caught a glimpse of this massive building at a depth of 18 meters (59 feet). I gasped into my regulator, stunned by the surreal sight of the underwater edifice that seemed to belong to another world.

Exploring the underwater art of the Great Barrier Reef should be simple enough but when faced with 20-knot winds and waves that thrash you around like a toy boat in a washing machine, nothing is as simple as it seems.

But first, let’s start with basics: how to reach the Great Barrier Reef from the Philippines.

From the PH, there are plenty of flights going to Australia and you can start your journey from Sydney, Melbourne or any major AU city of your choice. The important thing is to fly from that AU city to Townsville, a coastal town that can be your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. There are diveshops operating in this peaceful town that can bring you to this awe-inspiring destination.

Dive in: An art tour like no other

If you’re a scuba diver, the Museum of Underwater Art should be in your bucket list for its stunning collection of submerged sculptures, which blend art and nature in an extraordinary way. These eco-friendly masterpieces are housed in a 165-ton triangular structure called The Coral Garden.

Within this structure are 20 “reef guardian” sculptures, each representing marine science students engaged in various reef conservation activities.

These sculptures are crafted from ph-neutral marine-grade cement, embedded with over 2,000 coral fragments to promote coral growth.

You have the option of going snorkeling or scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef but I believe scuba diving is better so you could spend more time looking at the 20 guardians (sculptures) installed at the underwater museum. There’s a statue of a young student peering through a microscope and another statue of a young kid using a watering can to nourish a plant.

Truly the future of the oceans are in the hands of the youth, whose curiosity and care are immortalized in stone beneath the waves, reminding us of the vital role they play in protecting our blue planet.

There are also numerous sculptural trees and statues scattered around the MOUA that are worth seeing. We saw violet-colored giant clams and blue anthias fishes darting in and out of the coral reef.

Practice your bouyancy skills if you are going to go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. If you go on a guided dive, the divemaster might let you swim inside the Museum of Underwater Art if your skills warrant it. They are very protective of the world’s most extensive coral reef system, which was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.

Consider renting an underwater camera or bringing your own one. You won’t want to miss the chance to document the moment when you swam with barracudas at the John Brewer Reef or explored the depths of this underwater gallery.

As much as possible, wear reef-safe sunblock when you scuba dive or snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. If we want the next generation to be able to enjoy the wonders of this underwater realm, it remains our responsibility to protect this breathtaking ecosystem.

As I mentioned before, this colossal structure isn’t a church. However, as I knelt to the ocean floor and admired its grand architecture surrounded by colorful fish, I couldn’t help but think of The Grand Architect behind all of nature. In that stillness, I experienced a spiritual moment.

Whether you’re exploring the intricate details of the sculptures or witnessing the diverse underwater ecosystem of the Great Barrier, the MOUA offers a truly unforgettable dive.