A visitor from Poland has become the first tourist to explore Saint Lucia’s new underwater sculpture park and ring its submerged ceremonial bell.
Tourism and Investment Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire revealed the milestone during the closing ceremony of the inaugural Saint Lucia Showcase International, inviting the visitor, identified only as Robert, to share his experience with international travel professionals, buyers and media representatives.
Robert described the experience as “something amazing,” saying he was thrilled to be the first visitor to discover Below Saint Lucia. “It made a big impression on me, and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
The Polish national, who said he has been travelling for more than 28 years, praised the attraction for bringing together history, ecology, art and diving in a way he had never experienced before. He encouraged Saint Lucia to continue developing similar projects, describing the concept as “something unique.”
The underwater attraction uses a series of sculptures to tell Saint Lucia’s story, beginning with the island’s Indigenous people and continuing through the arrival of Africans, slavery and the modern era.
Among the installations is a submerged bell symbolising those used during slavery to summon enslaved people back to work. Robert rang the bell during his dive, becoming the first visitor to do so.
“He has created history,” Hilaire told the audience, noting that Robert was the first tourist to swim through and experience the attraction.
Hilaire described the park as a significant addition to Saint Lucia’s tourism product, giving visitors another way to engage with the island’s history while expanding the destination’s experiences beyond traditional resort tourism.
The minister also revealed that another underwater installation is being planned. While the first focuses on Saint Lucia’s history, the next will showcase the island’s culture.
“If you believe the first park is spectacular, the next one, I promise you, will be even more,” Hilaire said.
The underwater sculpture park forms part of Saint Lucia’s wider push to connect visitors more deeply with the island’s history, culture, communities and natural environment.
