African safaris and Antarctic cruises have you pulling out your old “been there, done that” t-shirt? Tired of boring old terra firma? How about making your next vacation an undersea adventure? U-Boat Worx (UBW), the Dutch submersible manufacturer, has just the ticket for you.
Offering two units for charter, the company allows clients to go on their own personal quest or simply enjoy the underwater scenery and aquatic life. UBW is offering global charters for individuals and scientists alike to discover what lies below. “They feel like real explorers when they are diving on unexplored sites 100 meters below the surface,” says Charlotte Schroots of UBW.
While the UBW submersibles have caught the attention of the uber-luxury yacht world they tend to be a tad pricey for most folks (around U.S. $1,000,000) so the flexible charter options offer this adventure to more of the masses.
Thanks to state-of-the-art Lithium-Ion batteries, the submersibles are able to perform diving operations up to six hours and emit zero pollution into the ocean waters. They offer advantages over “mere” SCUBA diving by allowing passengers to reach greater depths and remain underwater for extended periods all while in a dry, spacious environment.
Models currently available for charter include the C-Quester 3 and the C-Explorer 2. The C-Quester 3 is a 3 person submersible and the C-Explorer 2 is a 2 person submersible based on a full 360-degree transparent pressure hull, giving occupants the best unobstructed view possible. Both vessels have a maximum operating depth of 100 meters and for comfort both models are equipped with a powerful air conditioning system. In the near future other models with extended depth capabilities will be added to the fleet.