Bahrain intentionally submerged a decommissioned Boeing 747 passenger airliner off its coast in 2019 to create the centerpiece of Dive Bahrain, an underwater theme park, according to a report by the Times of India.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain said specialists saved the 70-meter aircraft from being scrapped and towed it into open sea. Engineers carefully lowered the giant plane onto the seabed at a depth of 20 to 22 meters.
Engineers conducted thorough preparations to ensure the aircraft settled safely on the seabed. Workers cleaned the structure and removed potential contaminants before smoothly submerging the vessel. Today, schools of fish shelter inside the spacious fuselage compartments and technical openings, while coral colonies and marine organisms gradually cover the wings and hull.
Scientific evaluation and expansion
The scientific community has supported the project. A comprehensive analysis of 39 specialized studies showed that artificial reefs attract as many marine species as natural ecosystems, with proper location selection and non-toxic materials playing a decisive role.
Artificial reefs are man-made structures placed on the ocean floor to foster marine habitats and encourage biodiversity. Authorities in the kingdom expect the site to attract underwater tourists and function as an open-air laboratory for oceanographers.
The park officially opened on September 8, 2019. Future plans for the site include adding artificial coral reefs, expressive sculptures, and an exact replica of a traditional pearl merchant's house, honoring the pearling industry that shaped the culture and history of Bahrain for centuries.
Scientists caution that submerging a large structure does not automatically guarantee the creation of a thriving reef. Researchers noted that time, environmental conditions, and material quality dictate the outcome, adding that previous global projects were either too small or lacked sufficient monitoring time to yield definitive conclusions.
Historical precedents for submerged steel
Ukrainian news agency UNIAN previously reported a historic scuttling event in 1919, when German sailors sank 52 of their own 74 interned naval vessels in Scapa Flow, Scotland, to prevent capture by the Allies after World War I. The operation resulted in the deaths of nine German sailors.
Scapa Flow is a natural harbor in the Orkney Islands off northern Scotland. A century after the fleet sank, the steel from those German warships became exceptionally valuable for scientific instruments because it was manufactured prior to nuclear testing and remained free of radioactive contamination.
