World’s deepest pool with underwater city, caves for exploration opens
It makes an Olympic swimming pool look like a puddle.
As if Dubai wasn’t filled with enough record-breaking attractions, the United Arab Emirates metropolis is now home to the world’s deepest pool, complete with an underwater city, caves and more.
“An entire world awaits you at Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest pool,” wrote Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Instagram. He was one of the first to visit the engineering marvel on July 7.
The Deep Dive holds enough water to fill six Olympic swimming pools.Source:Supplied
Indeed, the underwater wonder, which is part of the new Deep Dive Dubai attraction, measures a breathtaking 60m from top to bottom – nearly 15m deeper than the previous record-holder, the Deepspot in Poland, CNN reported. This was enough for it to capture the Guinness World Record for “Deepest swimming pool for diving” on June 27.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, the super-sized swimming hole holds a staggering 14 million litres of freshwater, the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools, per the attraction’s website.
The Deep Dive holds enough water to fill six Olympic swimming pools.Source:Supplied
However, you’ll want to bring more than a bikini to this behemoth basin. Due to the 30C water temperature, swimmers are advised to wear a thin wetsuit while taking a dip in the Deep Dive.
The sheer volume isn’t the only draw card for the pool, which is housed in an over 1486sq m oyster-shaped complex, a homage to the UAE’s history as a pearl-diving hub, CNN reported.
The Deep Dive’s star attraction is perhaps the intricate system of caves and a sprawling underwater metropolis, which divers are invited to explore as if perusing the Lost City of Atlantis. Visitors can even play table soccer at the underwater arcade.
Underwater game of table soccer, anyone?Source:Supplied
In addition, the multifaceted complex doubles as an aquatic film studio – the largest of its kind in the region – complete with an editing room in the same facility, per the site.
“There are quite a few dive pools in the world that are deep, but this one is so much more interesting,” said Deep Dive Dubai director Jarrod Jablonski. “There are so many things it’s really not fair to call it a pool.”
In order to ensure the safety of divers, the Deep Dive is outfitted with 56 cameras, as well as the region’s most advanced hyperbaric chamber, which can treat up to 12 people at a time in the event of an emergency.
And guests need not fret if they don’t boast Jacques Cousteau’s scuba skills, as the attraction offers diving courses for all experience levels, as well as guided tours. Meanwhile, landlubbers can watch the aquatic activities through the windows of an 80-seat restaurant outfitted with massive TV screens.
Aquanauts are invited to explore the facility’s Atlantis-esque sunken city.Source:Supplied
Alas, the Deep Dive is currently only accessible by invitation but will open to the general public later this year.
Along with Dubai’s Crown Prince, the site has been visited by the “Fresh Prince” Will Smith, who described the experience as “madness” in a recent Instagram video.
A diver explores the Deep Dive.Source:Supplied
Just be sure not to visit the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest skyscraper – after taking a plunge, warns the Deep Dive Dubai website.
“After any dive, it’s recommended to wait 18 to 24 hours before ascending higher than 300 meters,” they wrote. “However, there is no risk in diving after having visited the tallest building in the world.”
This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission
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