Bahrain has submerged a retired Boeing 747 jumbo jet off its coast to create Dive Bahrain, a 100,000-square-meter underwater theme park and marine research site.
The Gulf island kingdom placed the 70-meter aircraft between 20 and 22 meters beneath the surface of the sea in June 2019 after the plane reached the end of its commercial service life.
Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce officially opened the facility on September 8, 2019, featuring the decommissioned airliner as its main attraction for scuba divers. The country, an archipelago located in the Persian Gulf, developed the park to boost eco-tourism while establishing an artificial environment for oceanic scientific study.
Preparing the airliner required a specialized engineering operation. After technicians retired the plane from commercial flights, workers prepared the airframe for submersion, towed it to the chosen maritime location, and lowered it to the ocean floor. The jumbo jet's extensive dimensions, interior cavities, and large outer surfaces offer expansive structural space for marine organisms to colonize.
Engineering an artificial reef
Scientific research supports the ecological utility of sinking large structures, although long-term outcomes depend on environmental factors. A meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Marine Science that reviewed 39 separate studies found that certain artificial reefs can support fish communities with density, biomass, species richness, and diversity levels comparable to natural coral reefs.
However, researchers noted that reef performance remains heavily influenced by precise location, materials used, and local environmental conditions. A separate study published in PLOS One cautioned that artificial reef outcomes vary considerably and warned that many submersion projects lack sufficient long-term scientific monitoring to verify their ongoing conservation benefits.
Combining heritage and marine science
Bahrain designed the underwater park to extend well beyond the decommissioned aircraft. Official plans for the site included installing additional artificial reef structures, submerged sculptures, and a replica of a traditional house associated with historic Bahraini pearl merchants.
Pearl diving holds deep historical significance in Bahrain. Before the discovery of crude oil in the twentieth century, harvesting natural pearls from the seabed of the Persian Gulf formed the backbone of the island country's maritime economy and cultural heritage. Integrating these cultural elements allows the park to connect historical traditions with modern underwater tourism.
Educational research and conservation
Environmental authorities in Bahrain established Dive Bahrain to support ongoing research in marine ecology and biology. The facility allows scientists and visitors to observe firsthand how marine life colonizes submerged man-made structures.
By opening the site to scuba divers, officials aim to promote environmental education and marine conservation awareness. Researchers emphasize that the long-term development of the marine communities inhabiting the Boeing 747 will depend on surrounding environmental conditions and continuous scientific tracking.
