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Personal Submersible Expeditions

FAQ’s

Q. 1

Is there an age limit for submersibles?

No, people of any age can partake in a personal submersible dive.

Q. 2

Do I need any training or certification?

Unlike diving, there are no certifications required to ride in a personal submersible, however you will have to undergo a safety briefing prior to your dive.

Q. 3

Can we go in the sub the day before we fly?

Yes. There is no decompression involved when you dive in a submersible as the cabin is maintained at normal atmospheric conditions, so flying the next day is fine.  

Q. 4

Can pregnant women dive in a sub?

Yes. Again, as there is no change in atmospheric pressure it is safe for virtually anyone to dive in a personal submersible.

Q. 5

Is it claustrophobic?

Because of the huge windows on most personal submersibles it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic as you might expect, however the final decision to dive is up to each individual.

Q. 6

Will I feel sea sick?

Being in a submersible is very different to being on a boat. As you descend below the waves, there is no rocking motion, so it is very unlikely to cause sea sickness.

Q. 7

Is it safe to drink alcohol and go on a sub dive as a passenger?

Yes, within reason. Anyone intoxicated would of course not be permitted to dive, but moderate alcohol is OK.

Q. 8

How many people can dive in a submersible?

Private submersibles can generally hold from one to four guests (plus the pilot). Once they go beyond 4-seats, they are usually engaged for the purpose of research or more large-scale tourism.

Q. 9

What will the remaining yacht guests do whilst we are in the sub?

Dependent on the depth of the dive, the rest of the group can Scuba dive alongside the submersible with a guide and take photos or video. They can stay on board the yacht and assist in operating an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to light the way and film the dive, or they can enjoy other activities such as water sports or a relaxing massage.

Q. 10

How deep can personal submersibles dive?

This depends on the type of submersible. Recreational submarines can generally descend to between 100 and 500 metres, but exploration or research submersibles can dive anywhere from 1,000 to 11,000 metres.

Q. 11

How long can the sub stay submerged?

Again, this is dependant on the type of submersible. Generally, personal submersibles can stay submerged anywhere from six to twelve hours, but it is likely a single dive for leisure purposes would not last this long.

Q. 12

How safe are personal submersibles?

The personal submersible industry has a flawless record with no casualties and all submersibles are classified following stringent and detailed checks. There are also a number of safety systems in place on each submersible, many of which are automatically triggered in the case of an emergency.

Q. 13

Can I have drive the sub myself?

The Pilot will be able to show you the controls, but for safety, generally this doesn’t happen. Although, some submarines such as the Super Yacht Sub 3 and the C-Explorer 3 have a control system that allows for supervised passenger steering. Alternatively we suggest a submersible pilot licence course.

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