Science Says Art Can Help Save The World's Oceans Here's How

In April 2017, the fabled kraken, a legendary giant sea monster you may remember from the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, became a real thing. And not only that, its purpose is actually to save the sea! Okay, so this kraken is not a living, breathing giant-tentacled ship-eater; it’s a sculpture attached to a ship, and it’s hopefully going to help regrow the coral off the coast of the British Virgin Islands.

This inspiring story of art meets environmentalism started in 2015, when photographer Owen Buggy discovered an old WWII ship formerly known as YO-44 on the island of Tortola. Normally, vessels like this would be broken down and used for scrap metal, but Buggy had a bigger and better idea.

He approached his former boss, Richard Branson, who then teamed up with Lauren Keil from Unite BVI and organisations Secret Samurai Productions, Maverick1000 and Beneath the Waves to create what is now known as the BVI Art Reef.

The goal of the faked shipwreck is for the eco art installation to attract and regenerate marine life, and environmental consultant for the project, Clive Petrovic, is confident this will happen. He explains, ‘Everything from corals to sea sponges, sharks and turtles will live on, in, and around the wreck. The ship will become valuable for future research by scientists and local students alike.’

A film by Rob Sorrenti about this amazing experiment will be out sometime in 2018, but in the meantime, Buggy’s photos are an incredible and beautiful reminder of what happens when art and science come together for the good of our world.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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