Decisions, decisions. In case you’ve been wondering about which personal submarine to buy to go with your superyacht, or your island retreat, here’s a look at 15 of the best from Luxatic.
Personal subs are something of a new subset in the recreational marine category; in the past, subs were primarily used by the military or research institutions. Today, they’re still pretty much over-the-top items, even in the higher altitudes of the megayacht set. Until recently, the toys there ranged from jet skis to helicopters (his-and-hers helicopters for the very top).
But now personal subs carry their own cachet. They start at about one million dollars, and then you need a crane to launch and retrieve them, as well as a crew that knows how to run them. Some are utilitarian, while others have interiors built to resemble the luxurious insides of private jets. For its part, Aston Martin is working on a submersible car (think James Bond) for underwater exploration – or adventures.
My personal favorite here is the Necker Nymph that Richard Branson had built for his BVI resort on Necker Island (pictured at top). It’s 15 feet long, carries three plus a driver, has a top speed of 6 knots, and can go 150 feet underwater. Purists say that it may be more of an extension of scuba diving than a real submarine, and that’s probably true. Still, it looks like a lot of fun.
The Seabreacher X has two seats and a 300-hp engine. It has an aggressive look and has a fully vectored thrust system for underwater maneuvering. It’s 16-feet long, looks like a shark, and even seems to have the tail articulation of water mammals.
The U-Boat Worx C-Explorer comes with either three or five seats, and it can remain underwater for up to five hours. It has a transparent acrylic hull so passengers have 360-degree views of the underwater world, while they can stay comfortable in its climate-controlled cabin. The twin-pontoon hull design will keep it stable even in rough conditions.
The Triton 600/2 is Triton’s smallest sub, and is only five feet long and weighs about 5,500 pounds. It seats two people, which is perfect for owners who want to drive their own vessel. It can dive down to about 650 feet and stay submerged for up to six hours. Top speed: 4 knots. Read more:
https://luxatic.com/best-personal-submarines/
