22 Jan 2019
Dive Bahrain underwater site to feature submerged Boeing airliner
BY Andy Knaggs
An underwater playground for divers with a submerged Boeing 747 jumbo jet as its centrepiece has been announced by the government of Bahrain, and is set to open in time for divers to explore this summer.
Under the banner of Dive Bahrain, the 100,000sq m (328,000sq ft) site will be the world’s largest such underwater park, and will additionally feature a submerged replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house, artificial coral reefs, concrete sail structures and two submerged ships. The reefs and ships will provide suitable habitat for marine life.
According to the project’s website, the submerged 747 jet will be the largest aeroplane ever to be used as an artificial reef. The 747 will be processed in an eco-friendly and pollutant-free manner. It will then be positioned on a bespoke foundation on the seabed that itself is designed to enhance marine habitat and diver experience. The plane will be positioned at a nose-up angle so that novice divers do not have to go to the full 22-metre depth of the dive site, as well as maximising coral growth in shallower waters.
The project is the result of a partnership between Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority and the private sector. As well as attracting diving enthusiasts from around the world, it's hoped that researchers can use the site to gather information and data on marine ecology and biology.
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