Cayman’s Lost City of Atlantis will be basking in the spotlight today as the new dive site receives international recognition.
Scuba Diving Magazine has named the ever-evolving underwater city in Cayman Brac as Best New Artificial Reef.
The award is to be presented this morning to its creator – an artist known as Foots – at the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Show in Las Vegas. The four-day international trade event for the diving, action water sports and adventure travel industries is expected to draw more than 10,000 people.
‘I’m thrilled over it,’ said Foots, a sculptor and scuba diver who is realizing a lifelong dream of recreating the mythical city underwater.
‘It’s a great honour for me.’
The Editors’ Choice Awards is the first time in the magazine’s history that it has recognized the dive world’s best and brightest.
All of the winners will be featured in the magazine’s November edition, which hits the newsstands this month.
‘This is huge,’ said Max Hillier, president of the Sister Islands Tourism Association and general manager of Divi Tiara Beach Resort.
‘It’s going to create more awareness of our tourism product and that’s what it’s all about.’
He said the underwater city for divers and snorkellers – a multi-phase project that will involve some 150,000 pounds of sculptures – has big potential as a destination attraction including cruise visitors.
‘This project is the first of its kind anywhere in the world,’ he said. ‘There’s been tons of interest. The web is abuzz with information about Cayman’s Lost City of Atlantis.
‘We’ve also had pieces run in Sport Diver and Dive Training (magazines), in the local newspapers and foreign press.’
Mr. Hillier noted the materials used for sculptures – a mix of crushed rock and limestone – promote rapid coral growth.
‘The most exciting part about the dynamics of the project is that within a few years you’re going to have a miniature coral city.
‘We can already see small animals taking up residence on the sculptures and some coral growth beginning.’
He added the artificial reef offers also research possibilities with the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s research centre in Little Cayman.
‘The artist has created a brand new canvas for coral reef research.’
Lifelong dream
There are now around 50 pieces in the underwater city. The latest works include the Scriptures and sculptures honouring two Brackers – Clarence Ebanks is the First Prophet and Dennis Bodden is the First Sentinel. The Scriptures are carved on columns, written in the ‘Altantian Alphabet’, a language Foots invented.
The pieces will be on display the Brac Reef Beach Resort for a few months before being sunk at the site off the north shore.
Foots is now working on the pyramid of Atlantis – an enormous 40,000-pound sculpture that will include eight swim-throughs for divers.
He’s also created folklore and fundraisers surrounding the project, with proceeds going to the athletic fund for kids in the Brac.
The 51-year-old, who settled in Cayman Brac in 2003 after visiting the island for some 20 years, is footing the bill for the project, with logistical support from Government. He’s already spent more than $40,000 in materials alone. ‘My plans are to take this project to $1 million.’
A familiar question for Foots is, why?
He said re-creating Atlantis has been his dream since childhood.
‘It is a dream priceless to me. I believe in God and love people and animals, and one day when I pass on in body, my spirit will remain in Atlantis. My passion is my art.
‘This is my gift to the world. This is just the way it is.’
It’s also his gift to the community.
‘Cayman Brac is my home. It is very special to me in my heart.’
For Foots, working on the mythical city is an around-the-clock venture.
‘I’ve put thousands of hours in this project and I’ll put in thousands more. I’m having the time of my life.’
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