3 Contenders in the Race for the Perfect Personal Submarine

The Ocean Pearl, C-Quester 3 and OrcaSub are seriously expensive, but will make it possible for consumers to go if not 20,000 leagues under the sea, then up to 2,000 feet. Check them out, and then read about one PM editor's experience driving the Ocean Pearl.

By Jeff Wise

Published on: January 9, 2009

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Ocean Pearl

company: SEAmagine Hydrospace | passengers: 2 | displacement: 7000 lb
max depth: 500 ft | max speed: 2.5 knots
endurance: Up to 8 hours, with 72 hours of life support

1. Sonar: A forward-looking sonar sensor is mounted near the front of the vessel. A screen in the cabin displays obstacles obscured by murky water or low light.	2. Flotation Bladders: On the surface, inflatable sacs provide the vessel with more than 30 in. of freeboard. When diving, the operator deflates the bladders.
3. Vertical Thruster: Located at the center of gravity of the vessel to maintain stability, this fan produces a jet of water that is used to control the depth of the submarine.	4. External Diver Station: A scuba-equipped operator can pilot the craft from a master control panel located outside the sub. This allows a pair of untrained occupants to ride in the cabin.
5. Buoyant Tail: The rear of the vessel is filled with foam to keep the craft in a horizontal pitch on the surface and underwater.	6. Aft Thrusters: Joystick-controlled thrusters push or pull the craft forward or backward, and can be used to rotate Ocean Pearl in place.

C-Quester 3

company: U-Boat Worx | passengers: 3 | displacement: 9259 lb
max depth: 328 ft | max speed: 3 knots
endurance: Up to 6 hours, with 96 hours of life support

U-Boat Worx makes comparatively cheap subs by reducing the size of pressurized compartments, which leads to compact designs. Instead of sharing a large dry space, the batteries, electronics and an air-conditioning unit each have their own small sealed compartment. The company’s C-Quester 3 prototype is as adept above the waves as it is below: A second outer hull makes the craft a sub-within-a-boat. Executives say they will introduce a three-passenger model this year that will cost about $500,000.

OrcaSub

company: Sub AviatorSystems | passengers: 2 | displacement: 9000 lb
max depth: 2000 ft | max speed: At least 6 knots
endurance: Up to 12 hours, with 96 hours of life support

The OrcaSub is a submersible with wings. Sub Aviator’s craft zips underwater much as an airplane flies—relying on forward motion to generate downward lift on two sets of winglike fins. A pair of thrusters mounted on the stern, each generating about 500 pounds of thrust, propels the sub at 6 knots. For close-in maneuvering, bow and stern thrusters allow the OrcaSub to rotate or move side to side. Sub Aviator plans to start building the first production model of the $2.2 million OrcaSub this year with a construction time of up to 18 months.

• PLUS: Personal Submarines Make Backyard Diving Possible

• EARLIER: Meet the MIT Submarine Robot Ocean Researcher

• DIY RALLY: Make Your Own Personal Submarine

• TIMELINE: 100 Years of Submarine History

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