Underwater park project launch marks another tourism milestone

A number of artificial reefs apart from an aircraft will be submerged under Bahraini waters after authorities officially launched the eco-friendly project yesterday.  

The Boeing aircraft will be joined by other ‘massive structures’ underwater to act as artificial reefs, representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism revealed yesterday. The reefs are part of the world’s largest underwater theme park, which will be launched in the Kingdom in the coming August. Preparations to submerge the aircraft began yesterday while other structures will be submerged, later on, it is learned.

The structures being planned to be lowered into waters include a replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house, artificial coral reefs and other sculptures fabricated from eco-friendly materials, officials said yesterday.  Supreme Council for Environment Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Bin Daina confirmed that studies have shown that the aircraft that is to be submerged has to be free from materials that would adversely affect the marine environment.

He said that the project is in line with Bahrain’s vision to protect the environment.  The decommissioned plane was reportedly purchased from the UAE at a cost of $100,000. It will be submerged by 20 meters, according to sources. “This is expected to be an attraction for people from all over the world.

The plane would be submerged under water soon. Artificial reefs will also be later submerged. This is a step being taken not only for tourism but also for the environment,” the ministry official said. Covering an area of over 100,000 square meters, the exceptional dive experience includes several structures in addition to a submerged jumbo Jet as its centerpiece.