Behind The Scenes: Nemo33

The world’s deepest swimming pool is to be found on a business estate on the outskirts of Brussels at 333 Rue de Stalle. The creation of diving enthusiast John Beernaerts, the pool has a depth of 33m and its turquoise waters are heated to 33 degrees, an optimal temperature at which the body consumes less energy. Clearly, three is a magic number at the dive centre Nemo33.

But until it opened eight years ago, clarity was exactly what local scuba divers lacked. Those who wanted to practise closer to home than the Bahamas would have to plumb the murky depths of local lakes and flooded quarries. Nemo33 is an altogether different experience. First, non-chlorinated spring water is used in the pool – crystal-clear and drinkable, if only it weren’t so hot. Then downstairs there’s the popular restaurant serving exotic Thai food with an aquarium-like view into the pool at a depth of 5m. Diners and shoals of divers are separated by nothing more than a few water windows. And it’s a recipe that has proved successful, with as many as 30,000 dive-aholics from all over Europe visiting this little corner of the tropics in Brussels each year. 

At peak hours, usually in the dark winter months when swimming in a quarry or exploring a lake is less attractive, a maximum of 50 divers an hour can explore the pool’s 2,500m3. Underwater caves, a 33m deep pit and, for the moment, a sunken Smart car await discovery. But only by those with the requisite training, for safety is high on the agenda. Indeed, Nemo33’s diving school trains over a thousand people a year. Divers will also appreciate the small diving museum, as well as the vintage decompression chamber atop the bar and a submarine from the mechanical age. It’s a winning formula, which various cities worldwide have asked Beernaerts to replicate on their own shores.

Nemo33

333 Rue de Stalle

1180 Uccle

www.nemo33.com