The Arabian Gulf has no shortage of great diving spots, with plenty of wrecks and natural reefs for divers and snorkelers to explore. But Bahrain has recently announced a whole new diving experience for the region: an eco-friendly underwater theme park.
Set to open to visitors this summer, the underwater playground will feature a 70-meter-long Boeing 747 at the bottom of the water. The plane was brought to Bahrain from Fujairah and is believed to be the largest aircraft ever to sink.
The 100,000-square-meter site will also feature a "replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant's house, artificial coral reefs and other sculptures made from environmentally friendly materials" so as not to disturb the seabed ecosystem, said Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment.
Nestled between the Qatar Peninsula and the East Coast of Saudi Arabia, the booming Persian Gulf nation is one of the most tourist-friendly Arab countries to visit. Alongside the famous Qal'at al-Bahrain fortress and the 400-year-old Tree of Life, the tourism industry is developing more projects to boost growth. And now, with the cooperation of the Chairman of Bahrain's Supreme Council for the Environment, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and private investors, this grand project has come to fruition.
