Just off the coast of Miami Beach, a bold new idea is taking shape beneath the waves. Known as The Reefline, this 7-mile underwater sculpture park and snorkeling trail blends public art with ocean conservation in a bid to revive the only coral barrier reef in the continental U.S.
The Great Florida Reef has been in crisis for decades, suffering from rising temperatures, coral bleaching, and disease. The Reefline offers a creative response: sculptural installations that double as artificial reefs, offering shelter for marine life and support for lab-grown corals. The first phase includes a submerged traffic jam by artist Leandro Erlich and a massive coral-friendly star by Carlos Betancourt—both engineered to nurture coral growth and stand up to ocean currents.
Coral experts and artists collaborated to make these works both meaningful and functional. Designed to be explored by snorkelers just 600 feet offshore, the project turns spectators into participants. More sculptures are on the way—including a blue whale heart and a life-size elephant herd—each bringing beauty and biodiversity to Miami’s underwater world.