World’s Deepest Diving Pool Opens in Dubai
Bottoming out at 196 feet, Deep Dive Dubai has become the deepest swimming pool in the world. It holds nearly 3.7 million gallons of water and has plenty of submerged attractions for divers. It was recently verified by Guinness World Records as the world’s “deepest swimming pool for diving.
Located in the Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba neighborhood, it holds as much water as six Olympic-sized swimming pools. At a steady 86 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s optimal for divers who want to maximize exploration time without getting cold. And, according to Deep Dive’s marketing manager and GUE Tech instructor Jesper Kjoller, there’s a lot to explore.
The pool itself is themed as a sunken city — or what Kjoller called a “submerged metropolis” — with modern city fixtures such as lamp posts, ATMs, phone booths, billboards and more. The city is complete with a garage full of cars and motorbikes, an arcade, an apartment setup with a full bedroom, kitchen and dining room, a library and other surprises. The facility is designed in the shape of an oyster, Kjoller tells In Depth, an homage to the importance of pearl diving to the development of the region and the UAE’s introduction into international trade.
Deep Dive Dubai also has the ability to block all natural sunlight, creating a daytime “night dive” experience, as well as hydrophone system from which music, soundscapes and announcements can be broadcast to divers underwater.
“Deep Dive Dubai allows thrill-seekers to dive inwards and discover a new underwater dimension filled with adventure and wonder,” Deep Dive Dubai’s spokesperson Abdulla Bin Habtoor says in a statement. “We offer an unparalleled experience with year-round diving, in a safe environment.”
Instead of solely relying on chlorine to keep the pool clean, Deep Dive Dubai uses an advanced system that filters and circulates all 3.7 million gallons of water every six hours. The system includes three treatment stages: It’s filtered through naturally occurring siliceous volcanic rock, goes through a NASA-developed ozone ionization for bacteria control and is finally disinfected using UV radiation.
Built around the pool is a three-story facility from which spectators can watch divers swim down to about 39 feet. The facility houses the largest hyperbaric chamber in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as a restaurant and gift shop for visitors and classrooms and conference rooms for training and events.
“This facility is an investment in Dubai’s growing sports culture,” Bin Habtoor says, “and will add another world-class destination to Dubai’s thriving tourist attraction.”
