Blue AbyssThe University of Essex is reportedly in discussions to build the world’s deepest swimming pool.
But, don’t worry, this isn’t part of some elaborate plot to drown the cast of TOWIE, it’s actually intended for spaceflight and human endurance research.
The proposed pool would be 50m (164ft) deep and cost £40 million to build.
The depth would far outstrip NASA’s own 12m (40ft) deep training pool in Houston, Texas, and the world record holder for deepest pool in Montegrotto Terme, Italy – the 42m (137ft) deep Y-40 diving pool.
The pool would simulate the microgravity of outer space and deep sea environments, and could be used for human spaceflight research programmes, environmental monitoring, training in advanced commercial diving techniques, marine and human physiology research and aerospace development.
John Vickers, managing director of development partner Blue Abyss, said:
All the ingredients are here; the location near to Stansted Airport and the North Sea offshore industry via Harwich; a superb campus site and an excellent research base within the University’s academic departments.
In all seriousness, let’s hope the cast of TOWIE don’t actually visit this place if it gets built. All that fake tan wouldn’t be good for the water.
