The world’s deepest dive pool and
underwater attraction has opened in Dubai,
with a post-apocalyptic submerged city
for divers to explore. Tom Walker takes a look
Divers visiting Deep Dive Dubai will explore an abandoned, sunken city, complete with a furnished apartment / photo: Deep Dive Dubai
With a depth of 60 metres, Deep Dive Dubai has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s deepest pool, but the team behind the new attraction always wanted to create more than just a very deep swimming pool. Instead, they wanted to create an exciting underwater attraction that would operate as a destination, with a restaurant, viewing windows and large screens displaying the feed from 56 underwater cameras, allowing visitors to see the divers exploring the underwater world.
The design team has created a 1,500sqm attraction themed around an underwater abandoned sunken city, featuring lampposts, shopping carts, bicycles, billboards, ATMs and a large tree. Divers explore the underwater sets, including an underwater apartment complete with artwork, furniture and toys and a garage with cars and motorbikes, and they can attempt to play pool and pinball 38 metres down.
The pool also features two underwater habitats – at 6m and 21m – that allows divers to surface inside a dry air space and talk to one another or communicate with a surface tender station.
The pool is filled with 14 million litres of fresh water (the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools), which is kept at 30 degrees. A variety of scuba and freediving courses are offered, aimed at beginners through to professional divers and athletes.
The building’s exterior was inspired by an oyster shell – in reference to Dubai’s pearl diving heritage. An 80 cover restaurant is due to open in late 2021, with large glass windows that will allow diners to view divers exploring the underwater world.
Located in Nad Al Sheba – 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai and 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport, Deep Dive Dubai is currently open by invitation only, and will open fully to the public later this year.
“For those seeking a unique experience, Deep Dive Dubai provides an exceptional, safe and controlled environment to learn all about diving,” says Jarrod Jablonski, a record setting cave diver and the director of the facility. “For experienced members of the freedive and scuba dive communities, it’s a facility and experience like no other.”
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The world’s deepest dive pool and
underwater attraction has opened in Dubai,
with a post-apocalyptic submerged city
for divers to explore. Tom Walker takes a look
Divers visiting Deep Dive Dubai will explore an abandoned, sunken city, complete with a furnished apartment / photo: Deep Dive Dubai
With a depth of 60 metres, Deep Dive Dubai has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s deepest pool, but the team behind the new attraction always wanted to create more than just a very deep swimming pool. Instead, they wanted to create an exciting underwater attraction that would operate as a destination, with a restaurant, viewing windows and large screens displaying the feed from 56 underwater cameras, allowing visitors to see the divers exploring the underwater world.
The design team has created a 1,500sqm attraction themed around an underwater abandoned sunken city, featuring lampposts, shopping carts, bicycles, billboards, ATMs and a large tree. Divers explore the underwater sets, including an underwater apartment complete with artwork, furniture and toys and a garage with cars and motorbikes, and they can attempt to play pool and pinball 38 metres down.
The pool also features two underwater habitats – at 6m and 21m – that allows divers to surface inside a dry air space and talk to one another or communicate with a surface tender station.
The pool is filled with 14 million litres of fresh water (the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools), which is kept at 30 degrees. A variety of scuba and freediving courses are offered, aimed at beginners through to professional divers and athletes.
The building’s exterior was inspired by an oyster shell – in reference to Dubai’s pearl diving heritage. An 80 cover restaurant is due to open in late 2021, with large glass windows that will allow diners to view divers exploring the underwater world.
Located in Nad Al Sheba – 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai and 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport, Deep Dive Dubai is currently open by invitation only, and will open fully to the public later this year.
“For those seeking a unique experience, Deep Dive Dubai provides an exceptional, safe and controlled environment to learn all about diving,” says Jarrod Jablonski, a record setting cave diver and the director of the facility. “For experienced members of the freedive and scuba dive communities, it’s a facility and experience like no other.”
New opening: The deepest dive
Featuring post-apocalyptic underwater environments and the world’s deepest pool, Deep Dive Dubai is making waves
Sustainability: A brighter future
With a zero-emission hotel and plans for a huge photovoltaic plant, PortAventura World is moving towards a new energy model
Museums: Play on
Using emotion, technology and special effects, Ravinia Music Box is bringing the music of Leonard Bernstein to new audiences
Tourism: Local heroes and global nomads
From globally-renowned art galleries to community-run attractions, a new breed of visionaries are reimagining tourism in this rural idyll
Planetariums: Thomas J Wong
As the world’s largest museum of astronomy opens in Shanghai, we speak to the architect who helped make the vision a reality
World Expo: Expo 2020 Dubai launches
It was delayed by a year due to COVID-19, but the Expo has now opened with more than 200 exhibitors and a masterplan designed by HOK, Arup and Populous
Museums: Phillip Tefft
The Imperial War Museum is bringing untold stories to life with its Second World War and Holocaust Galleries. Exhibition designer Phillip Tefft shares the journey
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day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
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