A personal submarine is a submarine, usually privately funded and constructed, which is usually primarily intended for recreational use.[1]

Some are also used for scientific[1] or military[2] purposes.

Other uses include tourism, filming, water sporting, rescuing and spying. Some are as long as 285 metres (935 ft) with capacity to stay underwater for several weeks (e.g. Migaloo submarine yacht). Those personal submarines which are available for sale cost from US$16,000 to 2+ Billion USD. A wide range of them is available from 1-person to 34+ occupants, some can go just 12 meters underwater and some can even reach to Mariana Trench.[citation needed]

Such submarines can be designed from scratch by the builder or built to available plans.[citation needed]

Records

edit
Timeline of deepest dive, solo, in a submarine, men
Date Depth Sub pilot Sub Notes
1985 914 metres (2,999 ft) Graham Hawkes Deep Rover [3][4]
6 March 2012 8,166 metres (26,791 ft) James Cameron Deepsea Challenger [5]
26 March 2012 10,898 metres (35,755 ft) James Cameron Deepsea Challenger Dive to the deepest point on Earth, the Challenger Deep.[6]
Timeline of deepest dive, solo, in a submarine, women
Date Depth Sub pilot Sub Notes
1986 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) Sylvia Earle Deep Rover Tied record set by Graham Hawkes in the same sub.[3][7]

See also

edit
Recreational submarines
Other submersibles
Manufacturers and organizations

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Springer, Bill (2018-08-31). "Richard Branson To Join Personal Submarine Expedition To The Bottom Of The Blue Hole In Belize". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  2. ^ newsdesk, iHLS (2019-05-09). "Navy to 3D Print Personal Submarines for SEALs". iHLS. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  3. ^ a b New York Times, "SCIENTIST AT WORK: Graham Hawkes; Racing to the Bottom Of the Deep, Black Sea", William J. Broad, 1993 August 3
  4. ^ CNBC Magazine, "Deep Water's New Horizon" Archived 2011-09-08 at the Wayback Machine, September 2010
  5. ^ Gizmag, "James Cameron performs deepest-ever solo sub dive, with a deeper one on the way", Randolph Jonsson, 11 March 2012
  6. ^ Gizmag, "James Cameron snags world record for deepest possible solo dive", Randolph Jonsson, 25 March 2012
  7. ^ Burnaby Mail, "Her Deepness drops in and warns of growing threat to the oceans", Deborah Smith, 2011 November 23