The five aquariums and swim reef are home to thousands of fish from oceans all over the world.
Priceless antiques, incomparable service, and breathtaking views greet visitors of Mardan Palace. Situated on Lara Beach by the picturesque Mediterranean Sea, the five-star resort offers guests spectacular, one-of-a-kind experiences: many of which were created through the problem solving, technical savvy and creativity of ICM, which dedicated nearly three years to this project.
In the world's largest outdoor pool, resort guests swim "with" sharks – safely – thanks to a clear, R-Cast™ acrylic shelf where swimmers stand and peer into the tank below. Featuring four aquariums, this 1.5 million liter saltwater tank is also the focal point of Mardan Palace's highly acclaimed main restaurant beneath the pool deck, affording diners nearly limitless views of the sharks and other species, as well as the swimmers in the pool above.
Creating such a spectacular view from inside – and outside – required ICM to solve a variety of formidable challenges: from engineering the acrylic view panels to withstand water pressure on both sides, as well as the human pressure on the inside of the pool, to designing custom permanent stainless steel installation brackets that separate each of the aquarium's marine environments and allow for open-top viewing from the pool above.
Each aquarium surrounding the five-star restaurant replicates a different aquatic environment – the Red Sea, shipwrecks of the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans – and features marine life specific to it: several thousand marine species in all. Each tank also opens up to natural sunlight. To capture and utilize it, while maintaining proper filtration and suitable environments for the fish, impermeable acrylic separates the life-sustaining saltwater from the pool water.
Once swimmers decide they no longer need the safety of clear acrylic between them and marine life, the Aquatic Adventure Swim Reef offers guests a chance to swim with marine life in a controlled environment. It's yet another element in this comprehensive aquatic complex designed and built by ICM, which also includes the tropical-themed disco and animal habitat and the Waterfall Bar, a single-sided, 21,000-liter commercial fish tank that enables guest to view colorful marine life and the shoreline in the distance.
Whether it's these breathtaking views – or the up and close and personal view of a shark the ICM-created aquariums provide – Mardan Palace is truly the experience of a lifetime.
