Diveheart, a non-profit organization based in Downers Grove, Ill., plans to build the world’s deepest warm water therapy pool for individuals with disabilities.

Since its inception in 2001, Diveheart has been assisting individuals with various disabilities. The unique adaptive scuba programs offered by Diveheart allow individuals to experience zero gravity underwater, expanding their mobility.

The proposed deep pool, located in Lake County, Ill., is set to be an international destination for research, rehabilitation, education, and training. With a depth of 39.6 m (130 ft), it will enable the organization to replicate the benefits of deep, open water diving and in a controlled and safe environment, eliminating limitations posed by weather and other factors.

The organization recently revealed the design of the pool and initiated a major fundraising campaign after completing a preliminary facility design, securing patents on the deep pool design, and finalizing a capital raise feasibility assessment.

Diveheart has a history of focusing on the medical and therapeutic benefits of scuba therapy, having presented to physicians from the Mayo Clinic in 2023. The deep pool, once realized, will fill a crucial gap in recreational dive pools globally, specifically designed for adaptive scuba and scuba therapy.