The installation forms part of an effort to restore coral reef ecosystems while creating a new conservation-focused dive attraction south of Phuket.
Preparations for the project were reviewed on Tuesday (Mar 10) when Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn met representatives of Rotary International District 3330 and related agencies at Phuket Provincial Hall.
Among those attending the meeting were Rotary District 3330 Governor Thakrit Butrungroj, district finance committee chairman Sasawat Limpanich, along with representatives from the Phuket Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center and other stakeholders involved in the project.
Officials confirmed that the sculpture will be placed at Siam Bay near Koh Racha Yai, where it will serve as an artificial reef base designed to attract coral larvae and marine organisms, helping to restore the surrounding marine ecosystem.
Governor Nirat stressed that the project must proceed with careful environmental safeguards and scientific oversight. He called for a comprehensive ecological assessment to ensure the installation complies with recognised marine conservation standards and environmental regulations.
The governor also proposed installing underwater cameras at the site to monitor changes in the marine ecosystem in real time, allowing the public to observe how marine life develops around the sculpture and providing transparent information on the project’s impact.
Project organisers explained that the Hanuman sculpture has been constructed from marine-grade cement, a material widely used for artificial reefs because it allows coral and other marine organisms to attach and grow over time.
The project team has already studied potential environmental impacts and held consultations with agencies under the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and other bodies within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The sculpture forms part of a broader initiative to create an underwater art attraction off Koh Racha Yai, combining marine conservation with cultural themes drawn from the Ramakien epic.
Designs for the project include sculptures depicting four characters from the Ramakien story ‒ Hanuman, Rama, Ravana and Suphannamatcha ‒ inspired by the episode in which Hanuman encounters the mermaid Suphannamatcha during the construction of a causeway to Lanka.
According to officials, the Hanuman statue will be the first sculpture installed underwater as part of the initiative.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, which earlier this month reviewed progress of the project. On Mar 4, DMCR Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi chaired a meeting with the Phuket Art Association, the Phuket Mining Rotary Club and other agencies to discuss the placement of Ramakien-themed sculptures at the site as part of a conservation-oriented diving attraction.
Officials said the project aims to restore coral reef ecosystems while supporting sustainable tourism by creating new habitats for marine life and increasing biodiversity. The sculptures are designed as artificial coral reefs and will be placed in the Gulf of Siam area near Koh Racha Yai.
Announced in March 2025 through a memorandum of understanding between Rotary clubs in Thailand and South Korea together with several government agencies, including the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, the project aims to combine marine conservation with cultural tourism.
Planned to cover about one rai of seabed at Siam Bay, the museum is expected to take several years to complete and ultimately feature multiple large sculptures created by Thai artists.
The project is a collaboration between Rotary Clubs in District 3330 in Thailand and District 3600 in South Korea, together with the Phuket Art Association and other partner organisations.
Organisers say the installation aims not only to support coral reef restoration but also to reduce pressure on natural reefs by creating a new dive attraction that helps distribute tourism activity more sustainably.