The upperclassmen of Stuyvesant swagger around the hallways with a jaded and patronizing air towards freshmen, feeling entitled to act in such a manner due to their expertise in the various locations of the school. They’ve passed through the hallway on the first floor filled with pianos. They’ve used the doorway in the cafeteria that connects to the stairwell. Most of them even know about the “secret” vending machine that gives two, yes, two water bottles for only one dollar. Yet, as knowledgeable as juniors and seniors are, they may still be blind to the spots in Stuyvesant that remain elusive to the majority of the school, with the exception of a select few such as the custodians and Kern.

One such area in Stuyvesant is the underwater room in the swimming pool on the first floor. To be more specific, it is located within the deep side of the swimming pool—a small opaque window in the shape of a rectangle connects to the room inside.

The room and window’s original functions were to allow viewers to accurately observe swimmers underwater, such as during swim meets. Currently, this room instead helps maintain optimal pool conditions, as mandated by school regulations. Engineers and foremen check the numerous machines in the room twice a day in order to control the chemical contents of the pool and the air within the swimming room, which is directly connected to rooftop vents. In all the years of the room’s existence, there have only been two minor instances where the water became noticeably hazardous.

As a warning to those curious enough to want to visit this room, they should try and forget the idea, as the room is completely off-limits to students, teachers and essentially anyone who does not have some sort of degree in engineering. Nevertheless, this room continues to provide the essential function of maintaining a healthy environment for the members of the Stuyvesant swim teams as well students who take swim-gym or lifeguard training and the teachers who love their daily morning swims.