Under the sea

Situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the John Brewer Reef Coral Greenhouse opened this week. Unfortunately, the only people able to view it will be the locals and those from Tasmania, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

Good things are worth waiting for, however, and this underwater museum will definitely be on the bucket list of many divers and snorkellers.

Set around 80 kilometres off the coast of Townsville, the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

The underwater sculptures weigh more than 59 tonnes and were designed by Jason DeCaires Taylor.

The sculptures are made from stainless steel and pH-neutral materials in order to complement natural coral growth.

The underwater museum was mainly funded by the state government who provided $3 million for this unique tourism experience.