Located in Abano Terme, in the province of Padua en Italy, Y-40 The Deep Joy is recognized as the world's deepest thermal water poolDesigned as a unique underwater space combining diving, training, exploration and sensory experience, near Venice, this place attracts divers, thrill-seekers, researchers and tourists from all over the world.
Y-40® The Deep Joy was directed by Italian architect Emanuele Boaretto and inaugurated the 5th June 2014Upon its opening, it was registered in the Guinness World Records to be the deepest swimming pool in the world, with a maximum depth of 42,15 meters, the equivalent of a twelve-story building.
The architecture of Y-40 is not merely a technical feat. It also incorporates an aesthetic and environmental vision, responding to the landscape and thermal constraints of the basin. Euganean Hills, a historic thermal spa area in northern Italy.
Thermal water and sensory experience
The swimming pool offers a surface area of 21 x 18 meters for a volume of more than 4,300 m³ of natural thermal water maintained between 32 and 34°CThis high temperature, with mineral-rich waters (sodium, bromine, iodine), comes from deep underground springs that have been exploited for decades, allowing diving without a wetsuit even in winter.
Divers explore a succession of intermediate levels and artificial cavern spaces, reproducing sensations similar to those of sea diving but in a controlled and safe environment.
Proposed activities
Scuba diving and freediving.
Y-40 is a renowned center for scuba diving and freediving, accessible to certified divers as well as beginners accompanied by instructors. Diving tickets are available to various depths (-18m, -30m, -42m), depending on the level and certification of the participants, with the option of guided sessions and private lessons.
Courses and training.
The center organizes specialized courses with diving champions and experienced instructorsThe training courses cover freediving, scuba diving and technical workshops, adapted to different levels, from the curious novice to the professional diver.
Visit and observation.
For those who don't dive, Y-40 offers a self-guided tour. for freeallowing the divers to be observed through large bay windows or from the transparent submerged tunnel located at approximately -5 meters, offering a unique perspective on underwater activity.
Research, production and events
Beyond its sporting role, the Y-40 serves as laboratory for scientific research in physiology, hyperbaric medicine, and other disciplines related to water and diving. Photo and video production studios also utilize this spectacular setting for music videos, commercials, and films.
Events open to the public, themed workshops and meetings with athletes are regularly organised, enriching the range of experiences offered to visitors and enthusiastic divers.
Why do divers worldwide choose the Y-40?
If Y-40 The Deep Joy has become a pilgrimage site for divers, it's not solely because of its record depth. The pool concentrates diving conditions that few natural sites can offer simultaneously, making this thermal pool a true laboratory for modern diving.
The primary reason is the actual depth achievable in a completely controlled environment. Descending to over forty meters without current, swell, or constant visibility allows divers to work on fundamental technical parameters: buoyancy control, stabilization at decompression stops, breath control, progressive pressure adaptation, and precision of movement. For experienced divers, Y-40 becomes a strategic training ground where they can refine their skills in complete peace of mind.
The thermal water, maintained between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius, profoundly transforms the relationship with the body underwater. The absence of a wetsuit enhances freedom of movement, tactile sensitivity, and body awareness. It also allows for several long dives in a single day, which is rarely possible in natural environments, even in tropical locations.
The pool's interior architecture is another major attraction. Intermediate platforms, vertical volumes, cavities, and shaded areas evoke quarry or cave environments, while remaining perfectly legible and safe. This configuration is ideal for technical training, instruction, simulated cave diving, and also for underwater photography and videography.
Safety is a cornerstone of the Y-40 experience. Constant visibility, continuous monitoring, the immediate proximity of support teams, and the absence of unpredictable natural factors create a unique environment of trust. Divers can explore their limits, work on depth, breath-holding, or performance exercises with a level of control rarely achieved elsewhere.
Finally, Y-40 captivates with its almost theatrical quality. Plunging into a futuristic thermal water cathedral, surrounded by glass walls, under the discreet gaze of visitors, provides a unique sensation, both immersive and introspective. Many describe the experience as more meditative, more introspective than diving in the sea, making Y-40 an ideal complement to ocean explorations.
It is these combined elements – depth, thermal comfort, maximum safety and immersive architecture – that make Y-40 The Deep Joy a global benchmark for amateur divers, freediving athletes and underwater training professionals.
Y-40 The Deep Joy It is therefore much more than a swimming pool. It is a world-renowned center for scuba diving, freediving, and training, a scientific research center, and an international tourist attraction. Its thermal water, record depth, and unique architectural structures create an immersive experience that transcends mere sporting activity. For water thrill-seekers, travelers seeking novel experiences, and diving professionals, Y-40 remains a must-see destination near Venice.
Patrick Koune
