Thanks to a multi-million dollar facility that has just opened in Poland, scuba divers can plunge to brand new depths without setting foot in the ocean.
With a depth of more than 45 meters (about 148 feet), Deepspot is said to be the deepest swimming pool in the world, holding 8,000 cubic meters of water, more than 20 times the volume of a typical 25-meter pool.
Intended as a training and practice site for divers of all levels, it cost an estimated $10.6 million to bring to life and the construction process took over two years.
The impressive structure is equipped with a simulated “blue hole” running down to its deepest point and even includes a small shipwreck for divers to explore, along with artificial underwater caves and Mayan ruins.
“There are no magnificent fish or coral reefs here, so it is no substitute for the sea. But it is definitely a good place to learn and to train in order to dive safely in open water. And it’s fun! It’s like a kindergarten for divers!” Polish diving instructor Przemyslaw Kacprzak said during the launch of Deepspot, located in the town of Mszczonow.
There’s also an underwater tunnel for spectators, while a number of onsite hotel “rooms with a view” at a depth of five meters will be available from December 14.
Despite Poland’s strict COVID-19 regulations, Deepspot was allowed to open, since it is a training center that offers courses rather than a regular swimming pool.
While it’s primarily aimed at scuba divers, director Michal Braszczynski said that the facility may also be used as a training center for firefighters and the armed forces.
Up until recently, Y-40 Deep Joy, in Hotel Millepini, near Venice, Italy was known as the world’s deepest swimming pool due to its 42-meter depth.
However, Deepspot has taken the title, but not for very long. The 50-meter deep Blue Abyss, currently under construction in Colchester, England will claim this honor once it launches. The state-of-the-art facility was scheduled to open this year but has been pushed back to late 2022 or early 2023 due to the pandemic.
