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The Beetle that swims with the fishes: Concrete VW lowered to sea bed in name of modern art

Amplify’d from www.dailymail.co.uk
At first glance it could be part of a lost underwater city.
But this Volkswagen Beetle began its life always destined for a watery home.
The iconic motor, which features a woman curled up on the windscreen, is actually made from concrete with holes in the windows to allow in fishes and sea creatures.
Does it use Shell petrol? This VW Beetle is actually made from concrete and was lowered into the sea in Cancun, Mexico, as part of an underwater modern art installation

Does it use Shell petrol? This VW Beetle is actually made from concrete and was lowered into the sea in Cancun, Mexico, as part of an underwater modern art installation

The specially-designed VW classic even has compartments inside so lobsters can make the vehicle their home.

Jason deCaires-Taylor, 36, from Canterbury, Kent, created the car to form part of a stunning display at the Underwater Museum near Cancun, Mexico.

His most recent VW installation was lowered 26ft below the waters of the Manchones Reef, off the Isla Mujeres.

Sinking feeling: Tropical fish can be seen swimming alongside the sculpture as it is carefully lowered into the sea using empty barrels and large sea buoys

Sinking feeling: Tropical fish can be seen swimming alongside the sculpture as it is carefully lowered into the sea using empty barrels and large sea buoys

Rear wheel dive: A scuba diver tinkers with the sculpture and ensures that it sits in the correct position under the water

Rear wheel dive: A scuba diver tinkers with the sculpture and ensures that it sits in the correct position under the water

Engineers attached huge barrels to car so that it would float gently to the sea bed while a team of divers fixed it into place.

The Beetle forms part of the quirky
underwater museum alongside sculptures of hundreds of people, buildings
and even modern furniture which have been made by the artist.

Mr deCaires-Taylor said: 'A life-size eight ton cement replica of the classic Volkswagen beetle is the latest addition.

 Life size 8 ton cement replica of the classic Volkswagon beetle

Life size 8 ton cement replica of the classic Volkswagon beetle

Parking plaice: The sculpture shows a person, possibly the car's owner, sleeping on the bonnet while fish swim around them

Parking plaice: The sculpture shows a person, possibly the car's owner, sleeping on the bonnet while fish swim around them

'The sculpture is designed specifically to house marine life whilst exploring the significant impact humans have had on our planet's ecosystems and the subsequent affects to future generations.

'The VW beetle or 'votcho' as it is known in Mexico is an iconic symbol and the classic shape was still in production until March 2003.

'It's rounded aerodynamic shape makes it perfectly suited to maintain stability underwater from strong currents and tropical storms.'
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