The Por La Libre 3K and 10K Open Water Swim showcases the beauty of the Cancun Underwater Museum and the Mexican Caribbean between June 2nd – 4th.

The event is near reaching its maximum of 1,000 competitors between the ages of 15 and 70 from throughout Latin America and as far away as the United Kingdom.

Por La Libre traverses the blue Caribbean from Isla Mujeres to Punta Cancun where the athletes swim over magnificent reefs, flora, fauna and the amazing Underwater Museum with its 400 submerged sculptures.

“The Museum aims to demonstrate the interaction between art and the environmental sciences, forming a complex reef structure for marine life to colonize and inhabit the sculptures and surrounding area. The location of the sculptures promotes the recovery of the natural reefs and relives pressure on them by drawing visitors away from other coral reef zones that are in need of rehabilitation and to the beautiful sculpture museum.”

Cancun is located in Quintana Roo and is Mexico’s most popular tourist destination, well-known for its spectacular beaches, unique beauty and breathtaking waters (see here).

Photos from the 2010 event are here. Video images are here.

Photo above by Jason deCaires Taylor.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source