Sculptures of human figures, submerged in nearly 30 feet of water off the coast of Cancún, Mexico, are providing a curiosity for vacation divers, as well as habitat for fish and other marine life. The sculpture garden is in the midst of the Mesoamerican barrier reef system, the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world.

Just off the tourist mecca of Cancún lies the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. It stretches all the way south to Honduras and is second in size only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

But like many reefs, it faces threats – from pollution and warming ocean temperatures and overfishing. Add to that the pressure of hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the area’s waters and the reef’s days