Posted on 09/18/2010 1:26:10 PM PDT by Tina Grazier
If you like diving, then you might truly enjoy these photos from the worlds deepest indoor diving pool in Brussels, Nemo33. In the series of photos below you will be presented with images that were taken of A complex designed by Belgian diving expert, John Beernaerts. It is a multi-purpose diving instruction, recreational, and film production facility. Beernaerts's dream of creating the world's first indoor diving complex began as a simple doodle, sketched on a napkin in a Brussels bar. The place is very clean, and set up and maintained to a high standard. On the pool's surface, a nice red Zodiac helps new divers learn to step off the boat and climb back into it after the dive. The deepest part of the pool is actually quite wide. Since it opened in 2004 it has had over 100,000 divers. Divers from all over the world have come to Brussels to experiance this unique diving pool. So far not one diver has been lost or injured in this underwater laberynth. With no sharks, no terrifying octopuses, no stingrays to pinch, and jellyfish to make one sqeemish, a diver can freely explore explore deep sea passageways with nothing hindering their return to the surfice.The pool itself consists of a submerged structure with flat platforms at various depth levels. There ares two large flat-bottomed areas at depth levels of 5 meters and 10 metersalong with a large circular pit descending to a depth of 33 meters, thus the name "Nemo33". It is filled with 2,500,000 liters of non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water maintained at 30 °C and contains several simulated underwater caves at the 10 meters depth level. Along with the many passegways for the divers to enjoy, there are also numerous underwater windows that allow outside visitors to look into the pools at various depths.
One of my friends compared to ringing the dinner bell since so many things are attracted to your flashlight at night.
The worst part is being able to find the boat when you come back up. One time the boats light broke while we were down. It was a little tricky finding the boat in 4 foot waves in pitch black.
Its actually a fantastic experience seeing all the life that comes out at night.
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I got SCUBA qualified about 20 years ago. Did some diving in Mexico and Cuba, but when I moved to FL and picked up a boat, some things I saw changed my mind. We had a couple of 10’ sharks circling the boat and that was enough for me. I cut up my PADI card.
You’ve got bigger ones than I do. I have been offered the chance and turned down night diving every time. Don’t you know there are monsters in there.
I made a pact with the sharks. They stay in the ocean and I stay on land. Been working well for many years.
I think we need to go to Brussels!
But Rika, where are all the pretty things to see?
My son and I were off Venice Beach near Sarasota FL. We had gone out about 300 yds looking for fossilized sharks teeth. There are a few megaladon teeth out there the size of your palm.
We surfaced to check out our find when my son saw a sharks dorsal fin circling us. That was a long long swim in. But we still go, just dont surface.
The night diving was far less scary than the beach diving I’ve done. The only guy I know who was hurt by a fish diving had part of a finger bit off by a puffer fish.
I think that if I came that close to one of those monsters, I’d head so far inland that salt water would just be a rumor.
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