It’s almost May, the weather at home’s still a bit dodgy and, hell, it’s hump-day. You’re probably thinking about booking your summer hols.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll be thinking a nice relaxing week in the sun, lying serenely by the pool with a book recommended by Richard & Judy (they know their stuff okay).
In which case, we don’t recommend you go anywhere near these truly terrifying swimming pools.
However, if you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker and love the thought of a few lengths smack bang in the middle of a safari park in Tanzania, knock yourself out.
Here’s the top 9 scariest swimming pools, ranked from ‘it’s not that bad once you’re in’ to ‘DON’T LOOK DOWN’.
9. Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangquio
At first glance, this looks pretty inviting.
Until you realise there’s a glass bottom at the deep end and you’re 100 metres up in the air. Nice if you want to show off your new bikini to the good people of Shanghai and holidaymakers arriving on BA flight 4567 though.
8. Sky Condos, Peru
In London, you’re lucky to bag a roof terrace with your flat, but apartments in Lima come with a slightly higher spec. Currently under construction, these floating pools will make you feel like you’re swimming in mid-air. But, with earthquakes common in that part of the world, we’re not sold. Note the lack of walls.
7. Sanctuary Retreats, Tanzania
Stay at the Sanctuary Swala in Tanzania and you can enjoy a dip in the ‘stunning’ infinity pool that overlooks the nearby waterhole, which is ‘often visited by elephants as well as the big cats that are often seen’. Apparently, this is a selling point. We don’t really fancy being that close to a lion in our trunks, to be honest, although the guide does add that cocktails are served by the pool so it’s not all bad.
6. Nemo 33, Brussels
This is the deepest indoor swimming pool and goes down 34.5 metres, as well as boasting underwater caves. Divers quite like it, we’re told. But, it scares the bejesus out of us. There’s nothing we fear more than really deep water and what lurks beneath. For instance, what’s hiding in those caves?
5. Golden Nugget, Las Vegas
Did these people not watch Jaws 3? Only in Vegas would they decide to put a water slide in a shark tank. It’s perfectly safe they assure us – the slide is enclosed. Yes, but call us pessimists, what happens when it breaks?
4. The Devil’s Pool, Victoria Falls
It’s the Devil’s work, that’s what it is. A pool perched on the edge of the world’s largest waterfall with just a submerged stone wall between you and a 100m drop? Excellent. There’s just one snag with the world’s first natural infinity pool – it’s only usable when water levels drop. The rest of the year you’d be swept over the small stone wall to your death. We’ll give it a miss thanks.
3. Bandra Ohm Tower balcony pools, Mumbai
This 37-story residential tower is still being built but we can’t believe they got planning permission for these balcony pools. We recommend a no diving policy.
2. SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands
Ooh, isn’t the view nice? I’ll just swim over to the edge to take a look….err, where’s the edge? This infinity pool has to be the most terrifying as it sits across three towers (so, parts of it aren’t resting on anything), 650ft off terra firma. Of course, it’s perfectly safe but we wouldn’t be venturing anywhere near the edge just in case.
1. Sky Habitat swimmable bridge, Singapore
This one will be complete just in time for your summer holidays – in 2016. A 38-story high swimmable bridge will connect two luxury apartment blocks in the suburb of Bishan. Using the infinity pool idea, it will apparently offer residents ‘stunning vistas’. Presumably while they do their fastest length ever.
