There are a handful of ultra-high-net-worth pursuits that sound tempting, but don’t really make sense. They’re typically wildly expensive and operationally inconvenient. And always difficult to sustain. The shortlist includes a personal nuclear reactor, a thoroughbred racehorse farm, and a private submarine.
Admittedly, though, when it comes to the ultimate superyacht toy, the mini-sub’s appeal is tough to beat. People have been fascinated by what lies below the surface of the ocean for millennia. Mesopotamian ruins from nearly 8,000 years ago include deep-water shells and pearls, and Aristotle wrote about the 11-year-old boy who would become Alexander the Great descending into the sea in a glass diving bell 2,500 years ago.
Even the tragedy of the Oceangate’s Titan submersible, which imploded on a dive to the Titanic wreck two years ago, hasn’t stemmed the urge to go deep. “That incident cooled things off for a while, but did not change people’s desire to do amazing things,” says Philipe Brown, a London-based concierge travel planner. “Ultimately, travel is about experiences and stories to tell.”
Exploring reefs and wrecks via submersible is a bucket-list item for most boaters.
Gavin Newman
Submersibles from Triton and U-Boat Worx offer the lure of underwater adventure but come with questions: Who will pilot it? What are the regulations? How does the crew launch and recover it? What sort of maintenance does it need? It costs how much?
Netherlands-based U-Boat Worx came up with a fresh answer. Besides selling their submersibles and offering fractional ownership, the company recently launched a “wet lease” program for yacht owners and charter superyachts. It allows anyone to rent a sub for as little as a week or as long as an entire season. The available models include two-, three-, five- and seven-person vehicles that, depending on model, can descend at least to 330 feet. Pricing varies on the size, the length of the lease, and the location.
U-Boat Worx has launched the equivalent of a luxury car-lease program for its submersibles that includes training.
Gavin Newman
“Over the years, we noticed a recurring theme. Many yacht owners were intrigued by submersibles but hesitant to purchase due to limited use or lack of on-board experience,” Wilbert Beilsma, the company’s commercial director, told Robb Report. “We developed the wet-lease model as a low-barrier opportunity to explore the world of personal submersibles without the long-term commitment of ownership.”
U-Boat Worx consulted with both clients and industry experts to devise a plan to address the most common concerns. The wet lease includes a pilot available to run the sub on demand, although those who prefer to keep their hands on the wheel can gain certification at the company’s training center in Curacao or have an instructor come to them for onboard lessons. “Graduates receive an official pilot certificate, and many of our clients enjoy taking the helm,” notes Beilsma.
Superyachts are a viable market for the smaller submersibles.
Guy Fleury
The terms also make U-Boat Worx responsible for regular maintenance, operational support, and permitting and regulatory guidance. “Our submersibles are certified to operate globally, but local regulations and conditions always apply,” says Beilsma. “Before every lease, we coordinate with the yacht’s captain and local authorities to ensure compliance with regional laws and to assess dive site suitability.”
In terms of safety, U-Boat Worx’s track record includes 20 years in business, 60 subs in operation around the world, and more than 10,000 successful dives.
These days, the instinct for self-preservation may be losing out to the thirst for adventure. “People are looking for extraordinary experiences, something they can’t find anywhere else,” says Roy Heijdra, marketing manager at U-Boat Worx. “A submarine dive is the kind of bucket-list adventure that sets your destination or charter yacht apart.”
And gives yacht owners a new underwater dimension.