The operation to sink a 70-metre Boeing 747 – the largest aircraft ever to be submerged – is underway in Bahrain waters as part of an underwater theme park.
The first phase of Dive Bahrain saw divers and tugboats working to relocate the jet to its new home in the Arabian Gulf.
In preparation for the Boeing’s submersion, the Dive Bahrain team worked for eight months. “We could have just sunk it the way it was when it was transported here, but that’s not our intention,” said Hamad Al Mahmeed, project manager at Dive Bahrain (via The National).
And the countdown to the largest underwater theme park begins as our Boeing 747 sails to her new home! Are you as excited as we are?! #DiveBahrain #Dive #Bahrain #Scubadiving #SCE #BahrainOursYours #ecotourism #underwater #underwaterworld pic.twitter.com/LhSn9WcTjI
— divebahrain (@divebahrain) June 11, 2019
Part of the press conference that took pace today to announce a milestone development of the world’s largest underwater theme park 🌎
جانب من المؤتمر الصحفي الذي اقيم اليوم للإعلان عن أبرز التطورات لأكبر منتزه غوص في العالم#سياحة #bahrainoursyours #tourism #بلدنا_بلدكم pic.twitter.com/uEmdkh9Wqv— هيئة البحرين للسياحة والمعارض (@tourismbh) June 10, 2019
“Every hazardous material has been removed; all plastic material has been removed. Even the bolts and the screws were removed so that we could clean any oil residue, before putting them back on.”
“We are in the market for a few ships big enough to be sunk,” added Mahmeed.
الرحلة الى موقع منتزه الغوص
Boeing 747 begins its journey to the final dive site location#DiveBahrain #Dive #Bahrain #Scubadiving #SCE #BahrainOursYours #ecotourism #underwater #underwaterworld pic.twitter.com/tIXpakj07s
— divebahrain (@divebahrain) June 11, 2019
The aircraft is expected to rest at a depth of approximately 24 metres, positioned nose up to allow divers to access it at shallower depths.
Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain’s minister of industry, commerce and tourism, said residents and tourists will be able to book trips through licensed diving centres by August 2019.
“We are proud to launch this unique eco-friendly project,” he added.
BTEA Announces a Milestone Development of World's Largest Underwater Theme Park during Press Conference
• • •
هيئة البحرين للسياحة والمعارض تعلن عن أبرز التطورات في أكبر منتزه غوص في العالم خلال مؤتمر صحفي
• • •#سياحة #bahrainoursyours #tourism #بلدنا_بلدكم #Bahrain pic.twitter.com/oaLUmLdfuk— هيئة البحرين للسياحة والمعارض (@tourismbh) June 10, 2019
• Happening Now • Our Boeing 747 sails to her new home! ✈️
نشهد الآن اهم خطوات المشروع حيث يتم نقل الطائرة لمحطتها الجديدة! #DiveBahrain #Dive #Bahrain #Scubadiving #SCE #BahrainOursYours #ecotourism #underwater #underwaterworld pic.twitter.com/9xcsD4cXmN
— divebahrain (@divebahrain) June 11, 2019
The 100,000 sqm site will also include a replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house, artificial coral reefs and other sculptures fabricated from eco-friendly materials to encourage marine life.
Boeing 747 attractions
Elsewhere, a retired KLM airliner made a five-day journey in Amsterdam to its final destination, where it will become a 5D aviation experience called the Corendon Boeing 747.
Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan has opened an “airport theme park” called Flight of Dreams, which includes high-tech immersive activities and F&B centred around the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Image: BTEA