Chicago may soon be home to the nation's deepest swimming pool. Diveheart, a renowned nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and veterans coping with PTSD through scuba diving, has set its sights on a groundbreaking endeavor in North Chicago. The organization has initiated a $300 million fundraising campaign to build a cutting-edge, three-pool adaptive scuba and scuba therapy facility. Central to the project is what promises to be the deepest swimming pool in the United States.

The project's 130-foot "telescopic" diving pool will enable divers to explore depths equivalent to approximately 10-12 stories beneath the water's surface. The pool will offer a controlled environment—unlike the harsh conditions and unpredictable currents of the ocean—and will be fully heated year-round with the goal of creating a carbon-neutral facility by using a mix of solar and geothermal energy for heating the water. The pool will be used to help build confidence, independence, and self-esteem in the lives of children, adults, and veterans with disabilities through scuba diving, scuba therapy, and related activities.

The large two-story facility will feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the indoor pools and gardens outside. It will also include two additional pools: a "starter" pool, which will serve youth in the Chicagoland area, offering swimming lessons and scuba training for beginners, and a 20-feet-deep "showcase" pool, featuring transparent walls, which will provide visitors with a glimpse into the underwater world.

An expected opening date depends on securing funding, but representatives expect it will take at least two years for the facility to be completed.

Find more information on Diveheart and the planned facility here.