It sounds like an incredibly easy way to get onto ASIO’s watch list, but a Dutch company is offering something a little different to the regular, run of the mill boat hire options. They’ll rent you a two or three person submersible for “Global Charter”.
Above image credit: David Pearlman
The company is U-Boat Worx, which sounds vaguely as though it’d belong in a cyberpunk alternate history World War II film. They’re based in the Netherlands. They actually build the models they’re hiring out. Pricing isn’t disclosed, so it’s hard to tell if you’d do better with U-Boat Worx or hiring out Richard Branson’s personal submarine.
While the official release talks about using the two submersible types they offer for activities such as scientific research or SCUBA diving, the website talks about using them for “every kind of mission around the world”. Am I the only one who gets more than a slight James Bond vibe from that? Are there companies that’ll also build me an undersea base?
[U-Boat Worx]Thanks Simon!
Liz Taylor
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 1:52 PMWell the nice thing about the U-boat Worx systems are that they are small and that they are classed by GL, an independent certification agency. This helps assure high levels of safety through peer review. They are also one atmosphere so the pilot and passengers stay dry and comfortable with no decompression. The Nekker Nymph is a wet sub where the pilot and passengers breathe compressed air as SCUBA divers do, to depths of 120ft.
CraftyNinja
Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 10:42 AMI can totally see myself humming the James Bond theme as the submersible starts to dive.
Other than world domination, this would be a great way for non-SCUBA enthusiasts to see various underwater wonders like the Great Barrier Reef. Heck, trained operators could take tourists out in these things which would generate revenue AND lessen the impact of people cutting out chunks of the reef or accidentally stepping on coral.