Cambodia’s southern coast is set to gain a remarkable new cultural and eco-tourism attraction. The Cambodia Tourism Board has partnered with Art for Kep to promote Kep and the S.E.A. Ocean Gallery, an underwater art museum that combines contemporary sculpture, marine conservation, and responsible travel.
Kep has long attracted visitors with its relaxed seaside atmosphere, seafood restaurants, legendary Kep crab, fishing villages, mangroves, and views towards the islands of the Gulf of Thailand. Now, the province is preparing to offer a new reason to stay longer: an underwater gallery where art will gradually become part of a living marine ecosystem.
The partnership agreement was signed on 7 August 2026 at Knai Bang Chatt in Kep. Through its Matching Grant for Overseas Promotion of Events, the Cambodia Tourism Board will help bring the destination and the Ocean Gallery to a wider international audience, strengthening Kep’s profile as a place for cultural, coastal, and sustainable tourism.
The S.E.A. Ocean Gallery is described as Southeast Asia’s first underwater art museum. Located near the Koh Karang Archipelago, around 8 kilometers offshore from Kep, the project will feature 3D-printed marine sculptures placed on the seabed within a Marine Fisheries Management Area. Rather than remaining static artworks, these structures are designed to support reef growth and provide habitat for marine life over time.
The project is being developed by Art for Kep with Knai Bang Chatt and Marine Conservation Cambodia, under the auspices of Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. It reflects an increasingly important direction for Cambodian tourism: experiences that connect visitors with local places while creating long-term value for communities and the environment.
Visitors will first be able to discover the sculptures at an onshore exhibition and visitor center at Kep West, located at Knai Bang Chatt. The underwater gallery at Koh Karang is expected to officially open around the end of 2026, with access planned by boat for snorkeling and diving once operating details, permits, and approved providers are confirmed.
For travelers, Kep offers an appealing complement to Cambodia’s better-known heritage destinations. Beyond the famous Crab Market, visitors can explore coastal landscapes, colonial-era architecture, nearby Kampot pepper farms and salt fields, mountain cafés, sailing opportunities, and peaceful beaches. Kep is also part of Cambodia Bay, whose four coastal provinces have belonged to the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club since 2011.
By bringing art beneath the sea, the S.E.A. Ocean Gallery could place Kep among Cambodia’s most distinctive new destinations, where a coastal holiday can also contribute to a deeper appreciation of marine conservation.
