By Jonathan White
Blue Abyss, to become the world’s deepest pool, is slated for construction outside London in Essex, England, and will be the world’s largest covered underwater research and commercial recreational water-based support facility. It aims to allow everyone to push their boundaries in their chosen field.
The exact location in Essex is to be kept a secret until the unveiling, which will occur by August 15. The project, led by John Vickers of Colchester, is confirming support from universities, commercial organizations and many recreational-dive training organizations.
Vickers, with a background the U.K. armed forces, which he left following an injury, worked in London before deciding to pursue his passion, Blue Abyss. Vickers has been a diver for many years and, at one stage, even ran an Army diver-training school. In addition to launching this $50 million project, he also runs a local employment organization for ex-servicemen called Leavers Link, which complements the forces’ own transition service.
Vickers is passionate about this venture and has spent a year putting the finishing touches on the plans for this massive 164-foot (50m) long, 131-foot (40m) wide and varying depth pool, with a 50m shaft. Heated by a mix of photovoltaic, ground thermal and biomass energy systems, plans call for a carbon-neutral facility. The facility will also include an onsite hotel, six large classrooms with removable walls to allow for one large conference room, a tiered amphitheater facility, a restaurant and café, a shop and a hyperbaric chamber. At one end there will be a large storage facility where the commercial enterprises can store their equipment. Blue Abyss will aim to have a series of attractions that can be moved into the water in rotation, allowing divers the chance to return again and again.
There are ongoing discussions about support, one of which is with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Empire under his new business start-up scheme called “Pitch to Rich.” The Blue Abyss team has already successfully passed through the first stage and on May 16th the voting starts again to select the top ideas for the Branson team to consider.
By embracing change, Blue Abyss intends to inspire innovation on a worldwide scale by pushing the boundaries. For further info, please search Facebook for Blue Abyss Pool and join the network to get updates and support the cause.
