Dubai already has the world's tallest skyscraper and the world's largest shopping mall, and it has recently opened yet another record-breaking landmark: the world's deepest diving pool. At a staggering 60 meters (196 feet) deep, the pool, part of the new Deep Dive Dubai attraction, has stolen the record from Poland's Deepspot, which reaches just over 45 meters.
The Deep Dive Dubai pool holds 14 million liters of fresh water, the volume of six Olympic-sized swimming pools, and it is at least four times larger than any other diving pool in the world. On June 27, Guinness awarded it the title of "Deepest Diving Pool."
For now the pool is open by invitation only, but it will open to the public later this year. Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a keen diver himself, was one of the first visitors and shared his impressions on social media.
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The water is kept at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), a comfortable temperature for wearing a thin wetsuit or a swimsuit.
A Sunken City and an Underwater Film Studio
The indoor pool sits inside a 1,500-square-meter, oyster-shaped structure, a nod to the United Arab Emirates' history as a pearl-diving nation.
But the biggest star of Deep Dive Dubai is arguably the pool's underwater city. Divers can explore "abandoned" sunken city apartments and play a round of underwater pool in the games room. Inside, the pool features state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems that create a range of different atmospheres.
The pool also doubles as an underwater film studio, the largest in the region. Right next to the pool is a media editing room.
Deep Dive Dubai offers courses for both beginners and certified divers. Divers can also explore the pool and the underwater city on their own after a tour with one of the on-site dive guides.
Around 56 cameras are installed throughout the pool to keep divers safe at every turn. There is also the region's most advanced hyperbaric chamber, with a capacity of 12 people, in case of an emergency.
"There are quite a few deep diving pools around the world, but this one is far more interesting," said Deep Dive Dubai director Jarrod Jablonski. "It's not only the deepest and the largest, but the sunken-city effect puts it in a league of its own worldwide."
"There's so much here that calling it a pool just doesn't do it justice."
Don't Head Up the Burj Khalifa Right After Deep Dive Dubai
The diving complex also has a restaurant fitted with large windows and TV screens, letting non-diving families and friends watch the action from dry land.
And in case you forget just how deep the pool is, Deep Dive Dubai has posted a warning on its website for anyone planning to visit the city's famous Burj Khalifa tower after a dive.
"Do not visit the top of the skyscraper after a dive," it reads.
"After any dive, it is recommended to wait 18 to 24 hours before ascending above 300 meters (1,000 feet). However, there is no risk in diving after visiting the world's tallest building."
