Taichung’s Stylish Boutique Hotels III
TEXT / RICK CHARETTE
PHOTOS / ASKA CHI
You’ve no doubt in the past heard a hotel described as “a real dive.” This, perfectly, describes the Divecube Hotel.
Let me explain.
‘Tis not “a dive.” ‘Tis a real fine place “to dive,” and to stay, for divers especially. ‘Tis a place filled in the center with water from the top floor down past the first and into the basement, tapering as the giant pool descends, a place to come if you’re the type of person with a hankering to spend time above-ground (deep) under water.
As with The Place Taichung introduced next, home for the Divecube Hotel is a new purpose-built high-rise with a sleek modern exterior. Taiwan’s central region is not a place for diving; the closest sites are along the northeast coast and far south in Kenting National Park. The owner wanted to create a facility for regional denizens to use and a new destination to lure tourists from outside Taichung. “Bringing the ocean to the heart of Taichung,” the pool is Asia’s deepest. Another equally important goal is to raise marine-conservation awareness through urban diving.
One and all are welcome – the pool is not just for guest use. The top-floor dive center has stupendous views across the city to the majestic central mountains through its east-side wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Occasionally a high-speed train can be seen hurtling by down below.
Trained instructors provide classes in both scuba diving and freediving (yes, the pool is that deep), and seasoned divers can head in by themselves, though with a dive buddy. The dive center can provide all needed dive gear. Special discount packages are available for overnighting guests.
The airy sun-drenched first-floor restaurant, where creative Italian vegetarian fare is crafted, has windows both into the main pool and into artificial practice caves. Guestrooms are utilitarian, outfitted with bunkbeds sleeping up to six – i.e., the diving’s the thing.
Divecube Hotel (潛立方旅館)
Add: No. 69, Anhe W. Rd., Central District, Taichung City
(台中市西屯區安和西路69號)
Tel: (04) 2229-9333
Website: www.divecube.com.tw
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Also read:
TAICHUNG / ART & ARCHITECTURE
About the author
Rick Charette
A Canadian, Rick has been resident in Taiwan almost continually since 1988. His book, article, and other writings, on Asian and North American destinations and subjects—encompassing travel, culture, history, business/economics—have been published widely overseas and in Taiwan. He has worked with National Geographic, Michelin, APA Insight Guides, and other Western groups internationally, and with many local publishers and central/city/county government bodies in Taiwan. Rick also handles a wide range of editorial and translation (from Mandarin Chinese) projects.
