Deep Dive Dubai: a sneak peek into the deepest pool on earth


Janice Rodrigues
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New UAE attraction Deep Dive Dubai has been making quite the splash.

The venue, in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, features an entire sunken city where divers will get the chance to explore a complete underwater world with an abandoned streetscape, apartment, garage, arcade, and more.

If you’re wondering what it’s like to take the plunge, The National’s Andrew Scott did a free-dive, that is diving without an air tank.

Scroll through the gallery below for more images from Deep Dive Dubai:

  • Deep Dive Dubai pool, at 60m at its deepest, offers divers a unique experience
    Deep Dive Dubai pool, at 60m at its deepest, offers divers a unique experience
  • One of the Deep Dive Dubai pool’s biggest attractions is its sunken city
    One of the Deep Dive Dubai pool’s biggest attractions is its sunken city
  • Divers are able to explore an underwater world, complete with an abandoned streetscape, apartment, garage, arcade and other interesting features.
    Divers are able to explore an underwater world, complete with an abandoned streetscape, apartment, garage, arcade and other interesting features.
  • Freediving and scuba diving experiences, along with courses, are offered to people of all abilities by international diving professionals
    Freediving and scuba diving experiences, along with courses, are offered to people of all abilities by international diving professionals
  • Other features include two underwater habitats with a dry chamber, 56 underwater cameras covering all angles of the pool, and an underwater sound and mood lighting system
    Other features include two underwater habitats with a dry chamber, 56 underwater cameras covering all angles of the pool, and an underwater sound and mood lighting system
  • It can hold 14 million litres of water, the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools
    It can hold 14 million litres of water, the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools
  • Water is filtered and circulated every six hours, while the temperature is maintained at 30°C
    Water is filtered and circulated every six hours, while the temperature is maintained at 30°C
  • Deep Dive Dubai pays tribute to the UAE’s pearl diving heritage
    Deep Dive Dubai pays tribute to the UAE’s pearl diving heritage
  • The facility opened to the public on Wednesday, July 28, 2021
    The facility opened to the public on Wednesday, July 28, 2021
  • Deep Dive Dubai offers experiences and courses across three categories: Discover, Dive and Develop, which are open to anyone aged 10 and above, from beginners to professional divers
    Deep Dive Dubai offers experiences and courses across three categories: Discover, Dive and Develop, which are open to anyone aged 10 and above, from beginners to professional divers
  • All experiences have a guide and equipment rentals, as do the courses
    All experiences have a guide and equipment rentals, as do the courses
  • Underwater gear, and photo and video equipment are available for rent, with videos and photos included with Discovery Dives.
    Underwater gear, and photo and video equipment are available for rent, with videos and photos included with Discovery Dives.
  • The venue is also home to the region’s largest underwater film studio, complete with a media editing room and a video wall
    The venue is also home to the region’s largest underwater film studio, complete with a media editing room and a video wall

“The unique thing about this location [is that] we have 365 days a year of perfect weather, no wind, waves, diesel fumes, problems of the like,” says Jarrod Jablonski, director of Deep Dive Dubai.

"The fact that there are no unfriendly marine inhabitants, and there is crystal clear water are just some other perks," he says.

Meanwhile, the water temperature in the pool is maintained at 30°C. Experience dives have a low guide-to-guest ratio and all experiences and courses include high-end rental equipment – including brands such as Halcyon, Scubapro and Fourth Element – which can be delivered poolside.

A range of underwater gear, and photo and video equipment, will be available for rent, with experience videos and photos included with Discovery Dives.

On July 8, Hollywood star Will Smith was among the first to visit the venue, which he called “insane” in an Instagram video. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has also been posting videos of the new venue.

The attraction opens to the public on Wednesday, July 28, with online bookings possible from Tuesday, July 27 onwards.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3

Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

Updated: July 18, 2021, 7:40 AM