Bored of life on deck? The ultra-lightweight Super Yacht 3 submarine from U-Boat Worx offers hours of underwater thrills.
One could be forgiven for thinking that purchasing options in the ultra-exclusive world of private submarines would be naturally thin on the ground. But quite the opposite is true. In fact, there are a number of subs out there fitting for a budding Cousteau, in all shapes and sizes.
Possibly the most famous brand in this area is Triton, and its new 3300/6 is an impressively large beast that can whisk six, yes six, brave passengers to depths of up to 1,000m at a speed of three knots. Its large acrylic hemispheres give the on-board submariners superb viewing of the ocean sea life.
US Submarines has the sleeker Discovery 1000 if you prefer a more James Bond aesthetic. Speaking of which, if this is your fantasy then look no further than the Orcasub, a two-man torpedo from Sub Aviator Systems that should bring your inner Troy Tempest to the surface.
On the more bonkers end of things – but still very clever – you have the delightfully monikered Penguin from Korean company Raonhaje, which floats on the surface but includes a large disc-like viewing pod submerged beneath the waves. Much easier, and definitely one for those not too interested in retracing the derring-do of Mr James Cameron.
Now though, U-Boat Worx, a company with considerable form in this field (you may recall seeing Russian President Vladimir Putin captaining its C-Explorer 5 in July 2013), has unveiled its new Super Yacht Sub 3.
Capable of taking three people to a maximum depth of 300 metres (there is also a 100 metre version), the Super Yacht Sub 3 is specifically designed for super yacht owners. Most of the above examples, and others on the market, are sizable crafts, but this new sub very small and very light: it is only 171cm in height and 3,500 kg in weight, so will stow away on a super yacht with ease. With its flexible lifting arrangement, it can be easily adapted to fit any crane configuration, too.
The six powerful thrusters can handle strong currents, of course, while inside the creature comforts are on hand with luxury leather seating and air-conditioning.
The 42kWh lithium-ion battery system will allow up to 12 hours of ocean-going fun, but perhaps the killer feature is the transferable “Manta controller” that allows passengers to take turns in driving the sub.
Should anything not go to plan, however, there are a number of safety features, of course, including a safety buoy, drop weight and 96 hours of life support. But faint heart never found fair shipwreck.
Production models will be available for delivery from September 2015, and prices will start from €1,750,000.
telegraph.co.uk
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