Under Water Sculpture - Man on Fire. A masterpiece of art, science, and environment.

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"Submerged in transparent ocean waters, my life-size statues act as tropical reefs. At first they look like ruins form an ancient civilization. But look closely. They are based on real people performing contemporary acts, cast from coral-friendly, pH-neutral concrete. Why do i create them? To show what a sustainable, symbiotic relationship with nature might look like.

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Five years ago in Grenada, West Indies, my training in sculpture, diving, set design, and photography converged. I realized that underwater statues might be an artistic way to help revive one bay's ecosystem. After the government agreed, the scale and my ambition grew. I've since sunk hundreds of works and shot the results.

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First I sketch a statue, then research how best to construct, transport, and i install it using cranes and a crew. Once it's finally in place, up to six months later, I get to photography it-that's the fun part. But it's also a challenge. Salt water alters shapes; weather and light are fickle. So I have to really focus on the opportunity at hand.

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Snorkelers, scuba divers, and tourists in glass-bottom boats all see my work now. I hope they enjoy it but also appreciate where it's located-at a vital intersection of art, science, and the environment."

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-- said Jason deCaires Taylor, the photographer which is based in Mexico. See more of his work at Under Water Sculpture.