Aquatic Center

Maps & Directions

The Alabama Aquatic Center has, during the past two decades, gained a reputation as one of the fastest pools not only in the Southeastern Conference, but in the nation.

The home of the Crimson Tide received not just a face lift but a full blown renovation in the fall of 1996, bringing the facility back to the standard of excellence that it has enjoyed through the years.

The $1.2 million renovation included the following changes:

• A new pool surface
• Office space was added for coaches and administration
• The men's and women's locker rooms were redone with tile floors and new lockers
• The staff locker rooms were totally redone
• The pool was painted and tiled
• The facility's light fixtures were changed
• A new sound system was installed

One thing that has not changed is the facility's reputation as one of the fastest pools in the country. One of the testaments to augment this claim occurred when Mario Zubero set a world record in the 200 meter backstroke (1:56.57) during the 1992 Rammer Jammer Invitational.

It was not the first time that Zubero has had a 'good' time at the Alabama Aquatic Center; he set a U.S. Open record in the 200 yard backstroke (1:43.40) at the SEC Championships in 1990.

Further proof was offered by the legendary Tracy Caulkins a short time after the pool opened. Caulkins set two American records at the Aquatic Center.

The Crimson Tide has built an impressive reputation for winning in the Aquatic Center. Since the facility opened in 1981, the Crimson Tide men's team has lost only a handful of home dual meets. Of the three SEC Championships the Tide won in the decade of the '80s, two, the 1982 and 1987 men's titles, were won in the Aquatic Center. All this proves that the Tide is tough to beat at home.

The Aquatic Center's main competition pool is 25-yards by 50-meters and is 6.5 feet deep at its shallowest point, 18 feet at its deepest. When set up for long course competition, the pool boasts nine-foot wide lanes, and when set up for short course, the pool can accommodate up to 17 nine-foot wide lanes.

The main pool has four diving boards - two one-metere and two three-meter - and a five and ten-meter platform off which the Tide divers compete.

The main competition venue seats 1,500, every seat of which is often taken during invitational and championship swimming and diving meets.

In addition the main competition course, the Aquatic Center has an eight lane 25-yard pool. The Aquatic Center also contains a complete weight room, dryland training areas and meeting rooms, all utilized by Alabama swimmers in their training.

Since opening its' doors in 1981, the Aquatic Center has played host to more than 170 swimming competitions including some of the most prestigious in the sport.

The Alabama Aquatic Center is located at the corner of Paul W. Bryant Drive and Hackberry Lane.